Overview
As they voted in the November 2004 election, Washington State citizens were unaware that they were launching a stunning and controversial political episode. The chaotic primary, a public equally divided between two candidates, the soaring voter turnout, and the timing of Election Day all collided, creating the closest ballot result for any governor's race in American history. Never before had an election for a statewide office required two recounts. In another first, litigation followed, calling into question the integrity and accuracy of the entire voting process. Whether Dino Rossi or Christine Gregoire would claim victory was finally decided in June of 2005. Out of 2.8 million votes cast, the winning margin--after the initial tally, a re-total by machine, and ultimately a manual recount--was a razor-thin 133 votes.Written from the perspective of the Office of Secretary of State, An Election for the Ages offers a chronological profile of these dramatic events. It clarifies and explains interpretations of election statutes, court rulings, and the role of state officials, providing an inside look at how Secretary of State Sam Reed and his key executive and election staff supervised a heated political battle that reached beyond this particular race and to the rules of democracy itself.
Full Product Details
Author: Trova Heffernan ,
Sam Reed
Publisher: Washington State University Press
Imprint: Washington State University Press
Dimensions:
Width: 15.20cm
, Height: 1.10cm
, Length: 22.90cm
Weight: 0.308kg
ISBN: 9780874223040
ISBN 10: 0874223040
Pages: 152
Publication Date: 21 July 2010
Audience:
General/trade
,
General
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active
Availability: Temporarily unavailable
The supplier advises that this item is temporarily unavailable. It will be ordered for you and placed on backorder. Once it does come back in stock, we will ship it out to you.
Reviews
[It is] valuable for gathering in one place newspaper and broadcast reports, press releases and court opinions about the drawn-out election. --Seattle Times
Author Information
Trova K. Heffernan, 2001-2008 communications director for Secretary of State Sam Reed, managed public affairs throughout a widely unpopular switch to a new state primary, the unprecedented 2004 governor election, multiple high profile court cases, and the opening of the country's first government digital archives. Sam Reed served as Washington's Secretary of State from 2001 to 2013, and prior to that he served as Thurston County Auditor for five terms. In 2006-2007 he served as president of the National Association of Secretaries of State. His legacy is one of active championing of civility, moderation, and bipartisanship in government.
