UPDATE: The Journal Sentinel article linked below has been updated with recount information. To see the full description, click the link and search for the phrase "Here's how the process would work".
In the short version, county canvassing starts no later than this Thursday, and a recount could start as early as the following Tuesday. Once a recount starts, "Observers could challenge ballots, which would then be set aside for further review."
Which leads to this, from Prosser campaign director Brian Nemoir (he also turns up here):
Nemoir said Wednesday that with a recount looming in the Supreme Court race between Prosser and challenger JoAnne Kloppenburg, the next step is to make sure "ballot integrity" is protected."Ballot integrity" — smells like ACORNs, doesn't it. And Milwaukee. Get ready for a full dose of the ugly. Looks like it's coming.
Nemoir said the campaign was beginning the process of checking with vote counters in each of the state's 72 counties to make sure ballots are protected and not tampered with.
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As I write, we're still waiting for a result in the Wisconsin state Supreme Court race.
The closeness of the vote count means that a recount is at least likely, if not certain. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has this to say on the subject, from a more general article on the ongoing vote count (my emphasis):
That close margin had political insiders from both sides talking about the possibility of a recount, which Wisconsin has avoided in statewide races in recent decades. Any recount could be followed by lawsuits - litigation that potentially would be decided by the high court. ...It looks, from the Republican side, that a recount is certain:
Either candidate can request a recount once the votes have been officially canvassed. If the margin between the candidates is less than 0.5% - as it is likely to be in this race - the state charges nothing to conduct the recount. If the margin is between 0.5% and 2%, the candidate asking for the recount must pay $5 per ward.
At the Seven Seas Restaurant in Hartland, Prosser told a handful of supporters at 1:40 a.m., "There is little doubt there is going to be a recount in this race."I was interested in the comment above about litigation. The phrase "decided by the high court" can only mean by the state Supreme Court, on which Prosser currently sits.
One of the most contentious issues for this court is recusal — when does a judge have to recuse himself? For example, the conservatives justices believe that a judge doesn't have to recuse himself or herself from cases involving campaign contributors. Will Prosser recuse himself from deciding his own case? It's likely, but not certain. Stay tuned.
Also, stay tuned for this, regarding Gov. Walker's anti-union law:
Legal challenges to the new law - which would eliminate most collective bargaining for most public employees - are expected to reach the high court, but it's not clear if the justices would take up the case before this race's winner is scheduled to be sworn in Aug. 1.One more way for Prosser to rule would be to put this case before the Court ahead of the election result, especially if Prosser's not likely to be elected.
Never forget Republican Law RL-1: When you have the power, use it.
GP
