More than 600,000 ballots in Ariz. still uncounted

In order to fix the unfounded reports in an earlier post that is now closed to comments, I offer this:

More than 600,000 ballots in Ariz. still uncounted - but they will be and they will affect the results.

More than 600,000 early and provisional ballots statewide have yet to be processed and counted, Arizona Secretary of State Ken Bennett said Wednesday.

Of that total, nearly 460,000 votes still haven't been counted in Maricopa County, and that's complicating the ability to call several close races throughout Arizona.

Bennett said the uncounted ballot total was 602,334 as of Wednesday, including Maricopa County's 344,000 uncounted early ballots and 115,000 provisional ballots yet to be verified.

State law gives the counties 10 calendar days _ until Nov. 16 _ to verify and process the remaining early and provisional ballots.

A state canvass to certify official election results for federal, statewide and legislative races is scheduled Dec. 3.

The 600,000 ballots WILL (probably) affect the final result in many races. The FINAL result is not set until December 3. Any race that is 'called' at this point for one candidate or the other is merely a provisional call, not a final one. They do not stop counting legitimate ballots until all the legitimate ballots have been counted. In some races there aren't enough uncounted ballots to affect the outcome and we can be pretty confident of the result. But we won't know FOR LEGAL CERTAINTY until December 3.

I am really getting jack of people reporting some sensational outrage when there isn't any outrage and it isn't sensational. Is it really that difficult to read and understand what is going on behind the story before popping off?

It will effect state and congressional elections...but it will have zero effect on the presidential election.

Originally posted by TheOneElectric
It will effect state and congressional elections...but it will have zero effect on the presidential election.

You are probably correct.

But since Romney won Arizona by less than 200,000 votes and there are still 600,000 outstanding votes, it could very well have an effect on the Presidential election - it could give the President 11 more Electoral College votes.

Lets do the math. President Obama got 75% of the Latino Vote. Suppose 75% of the uncounted ballots are from Latino voters, that is 450,000 Latino votes. And 75% of that would be 337,500. So maybe Obama will win Arizona after all the votes are counted.

But don't hold your breath. I pulled that 75% of the uncounted ballots are Latino figure out of my backside and absentee and provisional ballots usually go more conservative than polling day.

But it is very clear that these uncounted ballots COULD affect the Presidential election.

Ah finally someone who posts what really is going on.

Thank you for not going the sensational route by saying they are calling the race and not counting those votes.