NY-20: Tedisco Behind, Goes To Court

PoughkeepsieJournal.com

The fate of about 1,800 challenged ballots in the district has to be decided in the election between Democrat Scott Murphy and Republican James Tedisco.

The issues concern whether an absentee ballot could be disqualified based on how a voter filled out the application or because the voter has two homes and lives primarily outside the district.

Tedisco's team challenged most of the 1,800 ballots in question - about 700 were contested based on applications and about 300 were set aside because of residency questions, according to candidates' attorneys.

Murphy is ahead by 273 votes, most ballots to be counted have been. Tedisco's only shot is now to challenge some votes. The onus is on him. Those looking to use NY-20 as a narrative about Obama, the GOP and what's next for American politics are plain out of luck. But overall this will be demoralizing for the GOP. In 2006 and 2008, it seems that Democrats have ultimately won a disproportionate share of very close races. Here and in Minnesota, If the Republican doesn't win convincingly on election day, they don't win period. Absentee ballots should no longer be presumed to be GOP friendly. McClintock is one exception to the rule.

Oh and one of those being challenged is the former representative of the seat. From the Bennington Banner:

In yet another twist to the controversy, current U.S. senator and former 20th Congressional District Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand is having her ballot challenged. Tedisco's campaign is saying the senator was in the district and in her home county, Columbia, on March 31, the day of the election, and should have voted at a polling place rather than through absentee ballot.

Tedisco may have the letter of the law with him on this one, but this seems like weak tea. I don't think it's likely that a court will throw out the vote of the former representative for the district.