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Hinkle responds to
constituents' requests,
votes to delay ratification of governor's race
Rep.
Bill Hinkle, R-Cle Elum, voted today to delay ratification of
the governor’s race and give the courts time to rule on errors and
inconsistencies in the recent election.
“The integrity of our
republic is at stake if we vote to ratify a race when we are uncertain
of its results,” Hinkle said. “I am here at the consent of the people in
the 13th District. If we have no tool to measure that consent, how can
our system of elections continue to work? The Legislature does have a
responsibility to ratify this race. But only
when we are certain the results reflect an accurate count of the legal
votes cast. We just don’t know today if that’s the case. It’s our
responsibility to wait until these serious questions are answered before
giving it our stamp of approval.”
Every four years the
Legislature is called upon to ratify statewide elections, declaring them
a valid reflection of the legal votes cast. Since the recent election,
dozens of errors and inconsistencies have come to light, including
thousands more votes than voters, inclusion of hundreds of unchecked
provisional ballots, votes cast by felons and on behalf of deceased
voters, and members of the military not receiving their ballots or
getting them too late to vote.
Republicans, pointing to these and other election problems, introduced a
measure in a joint House and Senate session to delay ratification of the
governor’s race for two weeks. Democrats, who control both branches of
the Legislature, used their majority to deny the Republicans’ motion.
They passed a measure ratifying the race and cleared the way for
Gov-elect Christine Gregoire to take the oath of office tomorrow.
“I have received hundreds
of calls, e-mails and letters from constituents on the governor’s race,”
said Hinkle. “The overwhelming majority have asked me to wait before
ratifying the race, clearing the way for a revote. Today I answered that
call.”
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For more information, contact:
John Handy, Assistant
Communications Director - (360) 786-5758
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