header_blog.jpg

FL-13: What's Going On?

Posted by on December 6, 2006 at 12:47 PM

Over at DailyKos, Adam B. takes a look at what exactly went wrong in the 13th District of Florida, where Democrat Christine Jennings is still fighting to make sure that every vote, and every voter, is heard.

One option Adam looks at, explained by Rick Hasen, election law professor:

The House can — and should — declare the seat vacant, requiring the seat to be filled by a special election. ...

Overturning an election in the courts is tough, absent proof of fraud or proof that legal votes were not counted.

But there is another option. The Constitution provides that "Each House shall be the Judge of the Elections, Returns and Qualifications of its own Members ... ." The House has resolved disputed elections before. For two reasons, the House should declare the seat vacant, triggering a special election.

On the web: Christine Jennings

Comments - 7 »

Comments are now closed for this entry.