Absentee vote in Iowa: Better for the GOP than 2002, at least in one county (NRO's Geraghty)

Blog Row (NRO) ^ | 11/4/06 | Jim Geraghty

[LS]

In Black Hawk County, Iowa, usually Democratic territory, the election office has seen an interesting shift in who's requesting absentee ballots this year: Through Wednesday, absentee ballots have been returned to the county election office by 3,994 registered Democrats, 2,264 registered Republicans and 1,396 voters who list no party affiliation. But compared to six days before the 2002 election, the number of absentee ballots returned by Democrats are down 780 ballots while Republicans enjoyed a net gain of 391 ballots. Absentee balloting among those listed with another party or "no party" also are up 331 ballots over 2002.

Black Hawk County Republican Chairman Steve Schmitt said he thinks the surge in GOP absentee ballots this year may have something to do with a more upfront and aggressive approach being taken by President George Bush in recent weeks.

[LS]

1,000 votes difference and figure the indies split 50/50, this bodes VERY badly for the Dems. This directly affects the Mike Whalen seat, which I had as a loss. Geraghty thinks it can now be won with this kind of turnout.

What he doesn't tell us is the % increase over 2002. THAT would be helpful as a yardstick for the rest of the country.

[BamaAndy]

Maybe--just maybe, the pelosi cancer is sinking in.

[1035rep]

1,000 votes difference and figure the indies split 50/50, this bodes VERY badly for the Dems.

BTTT 

[knarf]

Actually .. I want to think that America is NOT stupid ... is NOT lazy ... and is NOT uninformed.

What IS ... is ... the socialists have been, in their death throes, trying a last ditch attempt to pre-empt the vote with Geobbels best .. The Republicans are losing .. they should just stay home.

Pelosi and the et al et cetera's are nothing more than all they have for 'validity' of their position.

We keep the House, we keep the Senate and .. though I see no viable candidate yet .. we keep the Executive.

[Bahbah]

I have a question which I know someone here will be able to answer. We have 3 kinds of voting, absentee, early and voting on election day. I have heard that the absentee ballots are NOT counted until several days after the election has been called. I have no idea if this is the case. Also, are early votes counted with election day votes? Thanks.

[BamaAndy]

In many areas--that is the case. The election officials will hold them and if numerically, there's no way the number of absentees could affect the outcome, then they are not counted. I guess it saves these districts a few bucks--

[LS]

I don't know about early votes. Absentees are always counted, but usually last.

[Petronski]

Please continue to ping me to all this really cool insider stuff right through Tuesday night.

Thanks!

[Merry]

I am an election judge in Illinois and they told us that all the absentee ballots will be counted in downtown Chicago and will be tabulated before the polls open. In the past, they used to deliver them to the precincts and we counted them before the we totaled our votes at the end of the day. Also, the people that voted early used electronic machines so their votes have been counted already.

[KingKongCobra]

Early votes are generally counted first, absentee last. The early votes are on the same machines as the Tuesday votes, so they get included in the Tyesday counts.

[RasterMaster]

The DUmbasses in the lame-stream, has-been, drive-by dinosaur media have to cover Saddam's sentencing tomorrow.

If he's sentenced to DEATH, any further trials are moot and we are again reminded of why our troops are in Iraq - depose Saddam (or REGIME CHANGE as it was referred to when Clinton adopted it as policy). DUmocrats wanted the election to be about Iraq, and so it is.

1. Jean-Fraud Kerry infers that soldiers in Iraq are dumb.

2. Soldiers respond

3. NYT admits Saddam had nuke program.

4. Families of fallen visit Iraq (no quagmire)

5. Saddam sentenced (death by wood chipper)

News cycle seems to be working for GOP advantage thus far. DUmocrats today counter with "Rusmsfeld must resign" and "recruiters caugh lying" stories. Wow. That's new....NOT!

In addition to Saddam sentencing, Fox will be running OBSESSION - THE MOVIE, and we get to see the face of the enemy today and tomorrow. Fox is also showing "waterboarding" (Steve Harrigan, a Fox reporter volunteered to show how it is done) all day today.

I don't know what Monday brings, but I've got a good idea about the day after.

[1035rep]

bttt

[Don'tMessWithTexas]

LS, I am on the ground in Iowa and I can tell you that turnout is on track to rival turnout in 2004. Whalen is also from the Quad Cities, an area rich in Republican votes. If Braley cannot turnout the Dem vote in tradition strongholds like Black Hawk, he is gonna have real trouble. Plus, Nussle is from that district and will be campaigning there Monday. I would not bet the ranch that the Dems will pick off this one. Mike Whalen is a good candidate and is in good shape to win it.

[ClaireSolt]

As absentee ballots are paper ballots that have to be counted by hand, they have usually been put aside until after the machine vote is in. Only if they could make a difference to the outcome are they then counted.

By the way, I think the information in this report should remain confidential. Election results can definately be affected by dribbling out results. That is why we voted on Election Day.

[Bahbah]

all the absentee ballots will be counted in downtown Chicago and will be tabulated before the polls open.

Hmmm, what do you think of that? And thank you for your answer.

[Bahbah]

Like you, I will only vote on election day unless I could not for some reason, and that has not happened yet.

[Bahbah]

News cycle seems to be working for GOP advantage thus far.

At least with respect to the stuff that isn't being made up out of whole cloth.

[RasterMaster]

DUmmies do look worried today, I see it in their eyes. Watch any talking head on the DUmmie networks.

[redgolum]

Local polls (Davenport) have Whalen as a win. Should be close.

[Bahbah]

Watch any talking head on the DUmmie networks.

I have been, and you are right. I can't wait until the 8th, really.