Town discovers apparent discrepancy
in Nov. 7 election tally
Following the public reporting of the Nov. 7 election results for the Town
of Cape Elizabeth, the Town has discovered and reported discrepancies in
the number of votes cast. A review of the talley was made in response to
a question about the total number of voters.
On Nov. 13, 2006, April Cohen-Tracy, Cape Elizabeth Town Clerk, reviewed
the tally sheets and noted that on Question 1 of the state ballot, the vote
on the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights, more votes were tallied than the estimated
number of voters who went to the polls or who voted absentee.
The Secretary of State’s office was notified of the apparent discrepancy
in the vote tally on Monday afternoon, Nov. 13.
A further review of the tape tally indicates that 31 blank voted ballots
were automatically sent to a separate section of the ballot box by the Accuvote
tabulating machine for hand tally.
In addition, 240 ballots with write-in candidates were also sent to the separate
section of the ballot box. The apparent problem may have occurred when all
contests were hand tallied on these ballots instead of only the write-in
candidates.
Despite the apparent discrepancy with the ballots with write in candidates,
no race would have had its outcome overturned.
It is not possible for the Town to undertake a recount on its own, as the
ballots are sealed pursuant to Maine law. A candidate for federal, state
or county office could request a recount to the Secretary of State.
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