Donna Edwards is challenging the results of balloting that took place in the primary on Tuesday:
Congressional candidate Donna Edwards announced plans yesterday to file a lawsuit over apparent voting irregularities in Tuesday's primary election in Prince George's County, while defeated county executive challenger Rushern L. Baker III demanded an independent investigation of the process.No surprise, but the only major candidate in Prince George's county who isn't concerned about voting irregularities is "Landslide Al" Wynn. (And, yes, for you history buffs, that is a comparison to "Landslide Lyndon" and his 1948 primary victory)
The separate announcements signaled that Tuesday's voting, a flawed process by many accounts, may not conclude the close primary contests for a seat in Congress and the county executive's office. The election itself was "horrendous," the Prince George's elections administrator said yesterday. And the victorious Democratic county executive candidate, incumbent Jack B. Johnson, said it warranted investigation.
"The integrity of the election is at stake," said Edwards, who ran against Rep. Albert R. Wynn in the 4th District Democratic primary and is waiting for the race to be decided when provisional ballots are counted next week in Montgomery and Prince George's counties.
It's 2006. This was a Democratic primary. Yet, Donna's right: the integrity of this election is at stake. If the integrity of an election is at stake, it is not an understatement that the integrity of democracy itself is at stake. The system in Prince George's County lost its integrity when voting machines were left unsecured.
Montgomery County also had its fair share of voting problems last Tuesday. There are still votes to be counted there.
This election is not over -- and there cannot be a winner named until the actual votes that were cast on Tuesday are counted.
