This might have been the first Monday in weeks without a 6pm wave of Rasmussen presidential polls, but there are plenty of other events to look forward to! With three Senate seats remaining in limbo, the 2008 cycle is far from over - but it is sometimes difficult to know what we are waiting for and when we should expect to see some resolution.
Why it takes Alaska so atrociously long to count ballots (especially after their primary debacle) will most probably remain a mystery to us all, but there are other questions that have more obvious answers: When will Minnesota’s recount start, for instance, and when should we expect results? When will Alaska to start counting the tens of thousands of ballots that have remained intact? Here is a handy calendar of upcoming events:
- November 10th: Deadline for Minnesota counties to canvass and certify their results. It remains unclear how many counties still have to report their updated tallies.
- November 12th: Alaska expects to get through about 50,000 it has left to count, as the state’s election division informed us in this press release and in this strangely detailed chart of how many ballots will be counted on Wednesday in different parts of the state.
- November 18th: Minnesota Canvassing Board certifies results, allowing for the recount to begin.
- November 19th: Alaska has to finish counting and reviewing all early and absentee ballots, the complete geographic chart of which is available here, once again courtesy of the state Elections Division.
- November 24th: Certification of the results in VA-05
- November 25th: Certification of Alaska’s results
- December 2nd: Georgia Senate runoff
- December 4th: In VA-05, whichever candidate comes out trailing in the November 24th certification can ask for a recount.
- December 5th: Minnesota (re)counting must end.
- December 6th: LA-04 general election (preview)
- December 15th: Electors convene in every state and cast their presidential and vice-presidential ballot.
- December 16th-19th: Minnesota canvassing board meets to finish assembling recount results.
- January 6th: Congress convenes to count the electoral votes cast on December 15th.
- January 20th: Inauguration
“When will Alaska to start counting the tens of thousands of ballots that have remained intact?”
Taniel: What do you mean when you say “have remained intact?”
The number of Alaska votes to be counted appears to be all over the map I have heard 50,000; 70,000; 80,000+ and various numbers in between. Nate Silver on 538 did an analysis of early, absentee, and questionable votes but his numbers are different than those on other sites.
Throw in the strangly low voter turnout numbers that no one has explained to date and you have a system whose results are bound to be questioned by the losing party.
Is there a simple way to understand how the Alaska system works?
In Minnesota the final split appears to be 206 votes. I read, on other sites, that Coleman is planning a Florida style leagal battle if he loses.
Fritz - Alaska’s turnout may have been lower because Obama supporters thought there was no need to turnout because McCain would easily win the state. Democrats didn`t turn out because they thought Stevens was doomed (some polls showed him 22% behind) and this then leads to Stevens maybe narrowly winning. Polls only show what people would vote for, but they have to actually VOTE.
You forgot January 5th–the day the 111th Congress is sworn in.