[EL] “New York Mayor’s Race in Chaos After Elections Board Counts 135,000 Test Ballots”

Wed Jun 30 10:01:29 PDT 2021

There are two schools of thought on when/how to release RCV tabulation
information: (1) hold all ranking info until every last ballot is counted
(including cured absentees), or (2) release ranking info as ballots are
received/counted by the central office, with preliminary results released
on election night and with rolling updates following every day thereafter
until all ballots have been counted.

There are merits to both approaches – unfortunately NYC took a middle road
that is arguably a "worst of both worlds" approach by holding ranking info
on the in-person votes for a week, then releasing it all at once but
without absentees included.

The benefits of holding until all votes are counted is that it avoids any
confusion re shifting leaders as new ballots alter the order of
elimination, and the final results are simply the final results.  That
said, many jurisdictions eventually opt for the second approach (which is
preferable, in my view): releasing updated results as they come in and are
counted.  Because the results are being constantly updated, the media and
the public can settle into a rhythm and better understand that these are
the "with X% reporting" results, that the ballots are still being counted,
and that the "leader(s)" can change until the count is complete.  (It's
also helpful if the media emphasizes that the "top contenders" can change
as the ballots are counted rather than declaring that "X has been
eliminated" or saying that "it's down to a race between Y & Z" since that
can change.)

Rolling updates can also provide a number of other benefits: no
premature/runaway narratives developing re "who likely won" based on 1st
choices alone; no conspiracies re "why the wait" (since many voters have
come to expect from prior experience that at least some initial #s should
start coming in on election night); allows for a longer/more inclusive
absentee grace period and cure period w/o causing all results to be on hold
in the interim; and voters/media get transparency into the process.  (That
transparency would have been helpful in NYC, for example: it's harder to
overlook 135k test ballots when you're preparing your first election-night
batch – and the public would've caught the problem earlier in the process
either way).

All that said, there are good reasons to want to hold off on running
tentative elimination rounds until all the absentees are in and cured.  And
there are a lot of good reasons to provide rolling updates.  Unfortunately,
the approach NYC took offers none of the benefits of either method.

Mike Parsons

On Wed, Jun 30, 2021 at 12:17 PM <sean at impactpolicymanagement.com> wrote:

> Does anybody know WHY the NYC BOE decided to release preliminary results
> before they had received and tabulated all of the absentee ballots (plus
> finished the cure process)? Why would they do it in an RCV election given
> that the elimination process could look very different once those ballots
> are received?
>
>
>
> Sean Parnell
>
>
>
> *From:* Law-election <law-election-bounces at department-lists.uci.edu> *On
> Behalf Of *Rick Hasen
> *Sent:* Wednesday, June 30, 2021 11:35 AM
> *To:* Election Law Listserv <law-election at uci.edu>
> *Subject:* [EL] FW: Election Law Blog: ELB News and Commentary
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
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> *From:* Election Law Blog <feedblitz at mail.feedblitz.com>
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> *To:* Rick Hasen <rhasen at law.uci.edu>
> *Subject:* Election Law Blog: ELB News and Commentary
>
> I'm so thrilled about the all-new ELB, with new contributors, a broader
> diversity of voices, ELB Book Corner, and much more. Getting this site,
> which has been around since 2003, into shape for the current moment and
> expansion, took a… Continue reading
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> [image: Election Law Blog]
> Election Law Blog: ELB News and Commentary
> *------------------------------*
>
>    1. Just in Time for SCOTUS Election Cases, Welcome to the All-New
>    ELB–and Some Thank Yous
>    <https://p.feedblitz.com/t3.asp?/1116553/102231511/7776573/https://electionlawblog.org/?p=123046>
>    2. “Opinion: The Supreme Court will soon rule on a controversial
>    voting-rights case. Here’s what to look for.”
>    <https://p.feedblitz.com/t3.asp?/1116553/102231511/7776573/https://electionlawblog.org/?p=123044>
>    3. “Conservatives push voter fraud claims as they recruit volunteers
>    to police CA recall polls”
>    <https://p.feedblitz.com/t3.asp?/1116553/102231511/7776573/https://electionlawblog.org/?p=123042>
>    4. “The University of Michigan Guide to Gerrymandering”
>    <https://p.feedblitz.com/t3.asp?/1116553/102231511/7776573/https://electionlawblog.org/?p=122878>
>    5. “The Meaning, History, and Importance of the Elections Clause”
>    <https://p.feedblitz.com/t3.asp?/1116553/102231511/7776573/https://electionlawblog.org/?p=123039>
>    6. “The Trailer: This law helped the Capitol riot happen. So why does
>    nobody want to change it?”
>    <https://p.feedblitz.com/t3.asp?/1116553/102231511/7776573/https://electionlawblog.org/?p=123010>
>    7. “New York Mayor’s Race in Chaos After Elections Board Counts
>    135,000 Test Ballots”
>    <https://p.feedblitz.com/t3.asp?/1116553/102231511/7776573/https://electionlawblog.org/?p=123008>
>    8. “‘Election Subversion’ is Voter Suppression 2.0”
>    <https://p.feedblitz.com/t3.asp?/1116553/102231511/7776573/https://electionlawblog.org/?p=122958>
>    9. “Arizona ballot audit shows signs of backfiring on GOP”
>    <https://p.feedblitz.com/t3.asp?/1116553/102231511/7776573/https://electionlawblog.org/?p=122911>
>    10. If CJ Roberts Has the Opinion in Americans for Prosperity v.
>    Bonta, Will He Pull the Same Switcheroo on Exacting Scrutiny as He Did in
>    McCutcheon?
>    <https://p.feedblitz.com/t3.asp?/1116553/102231511/7776573/https://electionlawblog.org/?p=122908>
>    11. Walter Olson at Cato: “Congress Should Clarify The Electoral Count
>    Act Of 1887”
>    <https://p.feedblitz.com/t3.asp?/1116553/102231511/7776573/https://electionlawblog.org/?p=122906>
>    12. “Pennsylvania Republicans Look To Evade A Veto And Enact Voter ID
>    By Ballot Measure”
>    <https://p.feedblitz.com/t3.asp?/1116553/102231511/7776573/https://electionlawblog.org/?p=122904>
>    13. ELB Downtime Today—to Be Ready for July 1
>    <https://p.feedblitz.com/t3.asp?/1116553/102231511/7776573/https://electionlawblog.org/?p=122902>
>    14. “Threats Against Election Officials Are a Threat to Democracy”
>    <https://p.feedblitz.com/t3.asp?/1116553/102231511/7776573/https://electionlawblog.org/?p=122900>
>    15. The draft Colorado legislative maps
>    <https://p.feedblitz.com/t3.asp?/1116553/102231511/7776573/https://electionlawblog.org/?p=122896>
>
>
> Just in Time for SCOTUS Election Cases, Welcome to the All-New ELB–and
> Some Thank Yous
> <https://p.feedblitz.com/r3.asp?l=179210423&f=1116553&c=7776573&u=102231511>
>
> *By Rick Hasen, June 30, 2021*
>
> I’m so thrilled about the all-new ELB,
> <https://p.feedblitz.com/t3.asp?/1116553/102231511/7776573_/~electionlawblog.org/?p=122741>
> with new contributors, a broader diversity of voices, ELB Book Corner, and
> much more. Getting this site, which has been around since 2003, into shape
> for the current moment and expansion, took a… Continue reading
> <https://p.feedblitz.com/t3.asp?/1116553/102231511/7776573_/~electionlawblog.org/?p=123046>
>
>
> “Opinion: The Supreme Court will soon rule on a controversial
> voting-rights case. Here’s what to look for.”
> <https://p.feedblitz.com/r3.asp?l=179210425&f=1116553&c=7776573&u=102231511>
>
> *By Rick Hasen, June 30, 2021*
>
> Jennifer Rubin WaPo column
> <https://p.feedblitz.com/t3.asp?/1116553/102231511/7776573_/~www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/06/30/what-supreme-courts-voting-rights-decision-might-entail/>.
>
>
>
> “Conservatives push voter fraud claims as they recruit volunteers to
> police CA recall polls”
> <https://p.feedblitz.com/r3.asp?l=179210427&f=1116553&c=7776573&u=102231511>
>
> *By Rick Hasen, June 30, 2021*
>
> LAT
> <https://p.feedblitz.com/t3.asp?/1116553/102231511/7776573_/~www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-06-25/recall-conservative-activists-want-army-of-poll-watchers>:
> Conservative activists who have long promoted unproven and often false
> claims of voter fraud in California are spearheading a major new effort to
> capitalize on the upcoming gubernatorial recall vote, attempting to recruit
> tens of thousands of volunteers… Continue reading
> <https://p.feedblitz.com/t3.asp?/1116553/102231511/7776573_/~electionlawblog.org/?p=123042>
>
>
> “The University of Michigan Guide to Gerrymandering”
> <https://p.feedblitz.com/r3.asp?l=179210431&f=1116553&c=7776573&u=102231511>
>
> *By Derek Muller, June 30, 2021*
>
> Former Michigan Supreme Court justice Stephen Markman recently published this
> op-ed in the Wall Street Journal
> <https://p.feedblitz.com/t3.asp?/1116553/102231511/7776573_/~www.wsj.com/articles/the-university-of-michigan-guide-to-gerrymandering-11624656985>
> on proposals around Michigan’s redistricting process. It begins: Michigan
> is on the verge of adopting what proponents describe as a “new theory of
> representation,”… Continue reading
> <https://p.feedblitz.com/t3.asp?/1116553/102231511/7776573_/~electionlawblog.org/?p=122878>
>
>
> “The Meaning, History, and Importance of the Elections Clause”
> <https://p.feedblitz.com/r3.asp?l=179210435&f=1116553&c=7776573&u=102231511>
>
> *By Rick Hasen, June 30, 2021*
>
> Eliza Sweren-Becker and Michael Waldman have posted this draft
> <https://p.feedblitz.com/t3.asp?/1116553/102231511/7776573_/~papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3873499>
> on SSRN (forthcoming, Washington Law Review). Here is the abstract:
> Historically, the Supreme Court has offered scant attention to or analysis
> of the Elections Clause, resulting in similarly limited scholarship on… Continue
> reading
> <https://p.feedblitz.com/t3.asp?/1116553/102231511/7776573_/~electionlawblog.org/?p=123039>
>
>
> “The Trailer: This law helped the Capitol riot happen. So why does nobody
> want to change it?”
> <https://p.feedblitz.com/r3.asp?l=179210437&f=1116553&c=7776573&u=102231511>
>
> *By Rick Hasen, June 30, 2021*
>
> New Weigel.
> <https://p.feedblitz.com/t3.asp?/1116553/102231511/7776573_/~www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/06/29/trailer-this-law-helped-capitol-riot-happen-so-why-does-nobody-want-change-it/>
>
>
> “New York Mayor’s Race in Chaos After Elections Board Counts 135,000 Test
> Ballots”
> <https://p.feedblitz.com/r3.asp?l=179210439&f=1116553&c=7776573&u=102231511>
>
> *By Rick Hasen, June 30, 2021*
>
> NYT:
> <https://p.feedblitz.com/t3.asp?/1116553/102231511/7776573_/~www.nytimes.com/2021/06/29/nyregion/adams-garcia-wiley-mayor-ranked-choice.html?action=click&module=Spotlight&pgtype=Homepage>
> The New York City mayor’s race plunged into chaos on Tuesday night when the
> city Board of Elections released a new tally of votes in the Democratic
> mayoral primary
> <https://p.feedblitz.com/t3.asp?/1116553/102231511/7776573_/~www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/06/22/us/elections/results-nyc-mayor-primary.html>,
> and then removed the tabulations from its website after… Continue reading
> <https://p.feedblitz.com/t3.asp?/1116553/102231511/7776573_/~electionlawblog.org/?p=123008>
>
>
> “‘Election Subversion’ is Voter Suppression 2.0”
> <https://p.feedblitz.com/r3.asp?l=179210443&f=1116553&c=7776573&u=102231511>
>
> *By Rick Hasen, June 29, 2021*
>
> John Avlon
> <https://p.feedblitz.com/t3.asp?/1116553/102231511/7776573_/~twitter.com/NewDay/status/1409856404932993032>for
> CNN: “Election subversion” — or efforts underway to contest legitimate
> elections — “is part of a sinister state-by-state effort by Trumpists to
> grab power by any means necessary,” @JohnAvlon
> <https://p.feedblitz.com/t3.asp?/1116553/102231511/7776573_/~twitter.com/JohnAvlon?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw>
> says in today’s #RealityCheck
> <https://p.feedblitz.com/t3.asp?/1116553/102231511/7776573_/~twitter.com/hashtag/RealityCheck?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw>.
> https://t.co/g3hLi0JVQt
> <https://p.feedblitz.com/t3.asp?/1116553/102231511/7776573_/~t.co/g3hLi0JVQt>
> pic.twitter.com/ru4TT8PJ02
> <https://p.feedblitz.com/t3.asp?/1116553/102231511/7776573_/~t.co/ru4TT8PJ02>—…
> Continue reading
> <https://p.feedblitz.com/t3.asp?/1116553/102231511/7776573_/~electionlawblog.org/?p=122958>
>
>
> “Arizona ballot audit shows signs of backfiring on GOP”
> <https://p.feedblitz.com/r3.asp?l=179210445&f=1116553&c=7776573&u=102231511>
>
> *By Rick Hasen, June 29, 2021*
>
> Marc Caputo
> <https://p.feedblitz.com/t3.asp?/1116553/102231511/7776573_/~www.politico.com/news/2021/06/29/arizona-ballot-audit-gop-biden-496908?nname=playbook-pm&nid=0000015a-dd3e-d536-a37b-dd7fd8af0000&nrid=0000014e-f109-dd93-ad7f-f90d0def0000&nlid=964328>
> for Politico: When Arizona Republicans first pushed for a partisan audit of
> the 2020 presidential ballots cast in the Phoenix metropolitan area, they
> argued that they needed to know if any irregularities or fraud caused
> President Trump to… Continue reading
> <https://p.feedblitz.com/t3.asp?/1116553/102231511/7776573_/~electionlawblog.org/?p=122911>
>
>
> If CJ Roberts Has the Opinion in Americans for Prosperity v. Bonta, Will
> He Pull the Same Switcheroo on Exacting Scrutiny as He Did in McCutcheon?
> <https://p.feedblitz.com/r3.asp?l=179210447&f=1116553&c=7776573&u=102231511>
>
> *By Rick Hasen, June 29, 2021*
>
> Some reading the tea leaves believe Chief Justice Roberts has the Court’s
> opinion in AFP v. Bonta, on donor disclosure. I’m interested in the case
> because the decision may affect the constitutionality of campaign finance
> disclosure laws, even though AFP… Continue reading
> <https://p.feedblitz.com/t3.asp?/1116553/102231511/7776573_/~electionlawblog.org/?p=122908>
>
>
> Walter Olson at Cato: “Congress Should Clarify The Electoral Count Act Of
> 1887”
> <https://p.feedblitz.com/r3.asp?l=179210449&f=1116553&c=7776573&u=102231511>
>
> *By Rick Hasen, June 29, 2021*
>
> Maybe some space
> <https://p.feedblitz.com/t3.asp?/1116553/102231511/7776573_/~www.cato.org/blog/congress-should-clarify-electoral-count-act>
> for bipartisan work here.
>
>
> “Pennsylvania Republicans Look To Evade A Veto And Enact Voter ID By
> Ballot Measure”
> <https://p.feedblitz.com/r3.asp?l=179210451&f=1116553&c=7776573&u=102231511>
>
> *By Rick Hasen, June 29, 2021*
>
> NPR reports.
> <https://p.feedblitz.com/t3.asp?/1116553/102231511/7776573_/~www.npr.org/2021/06/29/1011056576/pennsylvania-republicans-look-to-evade-a-veto-and-enact-voter-id-by-ballot-measu>
>
>
> ELB Downtime Today—to Be Ready for July 1
> <https://p.feedblitz.com/r3.asp?l=179210455&f=1116553&c=7776573&u=102231511>
>
> *By Rick Hasen, June 29, 2021*
>
> We were planning on switching over to the new Election Law Blog theme on
> the night of June 30/morning of July 1, but with the big election
> law-related opinions coming July 1, we are doing the transition today. So
> the… Continue reading
> <https://p.feedblitz.com/t3.asp?/1116553/102231511/7776573_/~electionlawblog.org/?p=122902>
>
>
> “Threats Against Election Officials Are a Threat to Democracy”
> <https://p.feedblitz.com/r3.asp?l=179210457&f=1116553&c=7776573&u=102231511>
>
> *By Rick Hasen, June 29, 2021*
>
> Sue Halpern in The New Yorker.
> <https://p.feedblitz.com/t3.asp?/1116553/102231511/7776573_/~www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/threats-against-election-officials-are-a-threat-to-democracy>
>
>
> The draft Colorado legislative maps
> <https://p.feedblitz.com/r3.asp?l=179210459&f=1116553&c=7776573&u=102231511>
>
> *By Nicholas Stephanopoulos, June 29, 2021*
>
> Colorado’s independent commission just made public
> <https://p.feedblitz.com/t3.asp?/1116553/102231511/7776573_/~redistricting.colorado.gov/content/prelim-legislative-maps>
> its draft state legislative maps. PlanScore’s analyses of the maps are
> below. They’re both impressively
> <https://p.feedblitz.com/t3.asp?/1116553/102231511/7776573_/~planscore.org/plan.html?20210629T144737.921817298Z>
> balanced
> <https://p.feedblitz.com/t3.asp?/1116553/102231511/7776573_/~planscore.org/plan.html?20210629T145012.202253736Z>
> based on every measure of partisan fairness.
>
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