Close to a month after ballots were cast in the race between incumbent Congressman Tim Bishop and his Republican challenger Randy Altschuler in the First Congressional District, a winner has yet to be announced in what remains the last contested race in the United States House of Representatives.
After what Altschuler spokesman Rob Ryan called an “informal” meeting with State Supreme Court Justice Peter Mayer on Tuesday, that justice was expected to join attorneys from both camps at the Suffolk County Board of Elections on Wednesday afternoon to begin ruling on ballot objections filed by both campaigns.
This comes after the incumbent Congressman picked up a 235-vote lead against Altschuler after a rollercoaster of election results since election day when unofficial results gave Bishop a 3,500 vote lead, only to have Altschuler claim a 383-vote advantage after the county’s new electronic voting machines were reread.
At the close of counting some 11,500 absentee and affidavit ballots, Bishop led the race last week 97,050 to 96,815, but according to both campaigns Altschuler has picked up a handful of votes in the counting of 71 military ballots, narrowing Bishop’s lead to 221. However, on Wednesday afternoon, Schneider reported that Bishop picked up additional votes that morning for a 246-vote lead as each side dismissed 80 of its ballot challenges. On Tuesday, Schneider had reported that both sides had already agreed to to dismiss 100 votes apiece that they had previously challenged.
The Suffolk County Board of Elections will rule on the contested votes and any ballots the bi-partisan body cannot come to agreement on will be decided by Judge Mayer.
The race wages on in the midst of allegations by Fox News of voter fraud in the First Congressional District race. In a blog authored by senior correspondent Eric Shawn, he states the Fox News Voter Fraud Unit reviewed 438 absentee ballot voters who share addresses in New York City and the East End, allegedly uncovering 48 voters who maintain registration in both places.
In one instance, reports Shawn, a Democratic voter filed ballots in both New York and in Suffolk County, although Fox did not release the name of the individual.
It is a felony offense to vote twice in an election.
“This is exactly what we have been talking about,” said Ryan on Tuesday. “These are the exact things we are taking a closer look at.”
While Ryan acknowledged it is legal to vote in Suffolk County while maintaining a residence in New York, he questioned the legality of casting a ballot in a district outside of where one registers their car, or files for their New York State School Tax Relief (STAR) exemptions.
“They found people registered in both places and they have one person who voted twice, and I think they will have a couple of other interesting things to put out there before this is over,” said Ryan of the FOX news report.
Schneider acknowledged that that news investigation appears to have “possibly uncovered one individual who voted in multiple jurisdictions.”
“That is illegal and that vote should not be counted,” he said. “The District Attorney should deal with that individual. Other than that, I don’t think they found much of anything except possibly people who didn’t have their registrations purged by the board of elections, which is not the voter’s responsibility, it is the board of elections responsibility.”
Schneider added that New York State election law allows voters to choose to vote in a district where they maintain a second home, pointing to the head of the Republican Party in New York State as a prime example.
“Ed Cox, the chairman of the Republican Party in New York lives and works in New York City and his family has a compound in Westhampton Beach where he chooses to vote,” said Schneider. “He did vote in person, but regardless the chairman of that party has a right to vote where he chooses.”
Schneider added that if someone has issue with state election law, they can push to file a bill with the state legislature to force New York State voters to only vote from their primary residence.
Schneider said even with these allegations, he remains optimistic that Altschuler will not claim 58 percent of the contested votes to declare victory.
“We are in a numbers game and the math is only going to get steeper as we open up ballots,” said Schneider, who said he could not be sure when the race would ultimately be decided.
“If I knew, I would be booking a vacation trip right now,” said Ryan. “But I am not booking a vacation trip.”
Popularity: 5% [?]
We should disqualify both of these losers and start fresh.
I know some think Bishop is a good man but he is only when it benifits him and that is not the definition of a good man. The other guy can’t even find Sag Harbor. Where we going?????
Wow, they allegedly found 1 person who may have voted twice, and they don’t even know who he voted for, and this is voter fraud in this election according to Fox News. Mind boggling……
Time Bishop is an outstanding Congressman.
Tim Bishop is an outstanding Congressman.
Bishop votes with Nancy Pelosi over 98% of the time. He’s a lock-step statist who does what he’s told to do.
Tim Bishop has been an outstanding representative for the East End. Pack it up Randy Outsourcer – go back to New Jersey with the Jersey Boys where you belong.
Some people have no problem repeating the republican talking points and don’t see it as ‘marching in lockstep’.
Look who’s calling the kettle black.
Altschuler is hitting a big LOW and if he even tries to run again in 2012 this FALSE accusation of fraud completely blows his chances (along with the over 10,000 American people who’s jobs he sold to Asia- who will start to REALLY speak out in the next two years about Altschuler’s cruel profit driven activities). I am sure he knows this and is desperate to play any game to try and get elected! Randy you are trying to take away the people’s rights. I know several people who’s VALID affidavit votes you challenged and they are quite ANGRY! You also got Fox False News involved in this with their phony Fraud unit- Fox has no credibility and LIES about everything. Altschuler is challenging ALL the affidavit votes from Stony Brook U and has tried to Block TWICE as much votes as Bishop. This election is clearly over, yet it proves the selfish ambition of Altschuler. This will be made CLEAR if he attempts to run again.
Tim bishop is a thief- he stole your healthcare from you by voting yes on obamacare. Just wait and see how bad it gets, when the service cuts come, when you are denied medical procedures because of your age and instead let to die. Remember then who you voted for – guys like him voted to put voters like you, into an early grave, just so some other leach on the system can get free healthcare.
James Donovan:
The recent election was the first time I voted for a Democrat since Bill Clinton’s first term. I do not agree totally with his politics but look to the nature of his staff in Coram. If they truly mirror the boss in charge, than he’s our man. I found his staff caring, attentive and a group of folks that go the “extra mile”. In a county that has yet fully corrected from the past real property bubble, you need someone who will truly represent the people. How can we be expected to stand, and vote in a candidate that immediately prior to running agreed with the US commerce department; that offshoring is good for US Corporations. I think many of these candidates, companies and currently elected officials miss the point we are hammering home as voters. We, the American people are also too big to fail. So when you see your propery value decrease by another 28% in Suffolk County by quarter 3, 2012, just remember the jobs that have left for good because it is good for companies. Congratulations Congressman Bishop ansd thank your Coram staff for these kind words. They have earned my respect and my vote!
Voting twice is the equivalent of a candidate that sends one American job out of the country to two foreign workers for half the cost. They are both destroying America for personal benefit.