So I'm working the recount as an observer. I'm actually a 'floater', which means I serve as an enforcer of rules, answer questions, and draw attention to anything out of the ordinary. As a result, I've gotten quite a good perspective on what's going on.
First, some of the rules: The room has a 'public' observation area at the front; the rest is roped off. Only county elections staff, credentialed observers, and counters are allowed behind the rope. There are 80 tables, essentially mini-canvass boards, each with one Republican, one Democrat, and a non-partisan county employee who confirms that table's count. Observers must be escorted to and from their viewing stations; they may not roam freely more than a few feet, and may not speak to counters under any circumstances. [more after the jump]
Officially, there are 34 observers allowed per major party, although through mutual agreement the number has increased to about 37. Each side has four floaters who escort observers and handle issues that come up. Libertarians roam freely, as they have less than four observers - as they are not interested in the outcome, they are impartial observers of the process. Observation stations have even numbers - 2, 4, 6 seats, etc., evenly split between the major parties.
Coats, bags, pens, paper (with extremely limited exceptions), electronic devices and liquids are prohibited from the room. Exceptions for thin coats and sweaters have been made for comfort, and coffee or water is allowed in a sealed container (no starbucks cups allowed), but may never be near the ballots - they must stay on the floor.
Counters are provided with one green pen, and one pad of paper (tally sheets), calculator, stapler, rubber thumb thingee for sorting, and a couple other things that I forget. They are to bring nothing in the room. Each precinct's ballots are in a box or group of boxes; each table gets one precinct. They sort the ballots by candidate or issue (i.e. Rossi, Gregoire, Bennett, overvote, undervote, write-in). They are not allowed to judge voter intent. The canvas board has made clear guidelines for them to follow; if one of the three people at each table disagrees on a ballot, it goes to the county canvas board - period.
Once sorted, each counter is to verify A) the ballots all come from the precinct they're working on, B) the votes in each stack are correct, and C) the number of ballots in each pile. Their counts are kept separate and private. Each stack is verified and counted by each counter (but not the county employee). They compare their numbers. If the numbers agree, the county recorder fills out a third tally sheet which is signed by all three, they seal the box(es) of ballots and receive a new precinct.
If their counts do not agree, they start over and recount the entire precinct. If they don't agree after two counts, they close the box and it is sent to another table to be counted. Data entry is redundant and checked closely by both parties. According to yesterday's canvas board decision, if a precinct is off by one vote from the machine recount, it will be recounted again for accuracy.
I give you these rules so you can see...THIS PROCESS WORKS. There are sheriff's deputies throughout the room to ensure ballots stay in and contraband black pens (and visitors) stay out. Observers watch and question everything. If each side's observers do their job, this count will be accurate. Both parties would prefer to have an observer looking at each ballot, but if we do this right, it isn't necessary - the process will guarantee good accuracy throughout.
For the most part, the bipartisan approach is working, and counters are civil and seem to enjoy working together. The observers, with rare exception, get along just fine. I've enjoyed working with the folks leading the Republican efforts; they're fine people doing their jobs just like me. We've both helped each other in drawing attention to issues. Across the board, if a D is causing a problem, we let them know, and they let us know if one of their folks causes problems.
With the 573/561/595 ballots recently found, things are beginning to get a bit tense. I'm sure after the canvas board yesterday, we'll be just the tiniest bit less friendly and mutually trusting, but all sides have expected the civility to diminish as circumstances change.
There have been very, very few problems with counters. No one is stuffing ballots in their shirt or altering things. A couple tables have had Republicans sending Gregoire ballots to the canvas board, but these are no-brainer ballots, and it's just to be contrary. Observers from both parties now watch these counters (the ones who are allowed back) extremely closely, so this is becoming less of a problem. There have been a couple D's trying the same with Rossi ballots, but they have also been identified and corrected. Of 80 tables, maybe 3 will raise issues on a given day.
The problems we see are almost always with process - someone wrote the wrong number on a tally sheet and corrected themselves without starting a new tally sheet. Someone sneaks a contraband cookie into the room, or an illicit starbucks cup. Sometimes the two counters are TOO friendly and trusting, and don't recount each other's work - they are always reported by observers from both sides and made to do it correctly. The process is transparent, clear, and it's working. It is transparent to the point that they sorted their trash publicly, with six observers from each side watching for stray ballots.
I can't give you updates on changes - sorry, that's confidential for now. There are changes in some precincts, and King County favors Gregoire, so draw your own conclusions. The 573 ballots will certainly change things, but no one really knows if they'll change the eventual outcome. There are assumptions, but really, no one knows.
So that's the report. For the record, I've said here at Kos that this recount makes me sad. It still does; the winner loses by being tainted with the possibility of "stealing" the election, the loser loses because they will feel they were wronged. It's not anyone's fault (well, a certain campaign could have been better run, but that's moot now); it's just the nature of an election this close. The folks on the Republican side have agreed with me that ultimately, elections this close are lose-lose for both sides, and it's unfortunate. But in the end, we're all doing our best to make sure the counts are accurate, and the voters will benefit from that.
Next report coming soon; post-recount, I'll give you great stories from the floor that for now must be secret! ;-)