The Seattle Times ran an article today regarding the election, stating that Rossi intended to challenge the results. Figures, but here’s why it won’t affect this election:

First, state law only allows for three recounts via Chapter 29A.64.070 of the Revised Code of Washington. It explicitly states that "After the original count, canvass, and certification of results, the votes cast in any single precinct may not be recounted and the results recertified more than twice". Thus, no further recounts or checks are available; legally, Christine Gregoire is governor-elect of Washington State.

Second, from the standpoint of sheer popularity, Rossi campaigning for voter reform would likely only alienate him from the populace. This would be an extremely stupid undertaking on his part; far more effective would be a citizen action group committed to ensuring that the State of Washington reform its electoral procedures. This does, of course, assume that the blame lies with the State and not explicitly with King County, where several election mishaps occurred — a careful and thoughtful review of electoral procedure at this point is warranted, but not if it is spearheaded by Republican gubernatorial candidate Dino Rossi. That smacks of revenge, and is not the spirit in which such reviews should be held.

Not that Mrs. Gregoire is all that innocent either. The article quotes her as saying:

Finishing on top in a vote count had Gregoire putting a much rosier tint on things.

She said the state’s election system has proven itself a “model to the rest of the nation and to the world at large.”

“This is the biggest display of democracy I have ever seen,” she said.

This is so incredibly wrong that it’s almost funny that she dared to utter such a thing. This was shameful for the entire State; not only did we only elect a governor by 130 votes, we underwent several hand recounts in what essentially amounted to a pissing contest between Democratic and Republican parties. This was not a model, unless the model we want to set for the rest of the world is that, by complaining enough about the results, the party you want to win will.

Washington State was a farce in this electoral year. Perhaps we should take measures to ensure that nothing this idiotic happens again.