8/10/2019 SD 25 Timeline

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TIMELINE OF EVENTS - SENATE DISTRICT 25

Tuesday, Nov. 4th: ELECTION DAY:

With all towns reporting except for Long Island, Democrat Cathy Breen was down 23

votes.

Once Long Island reported, Breen was declared the winner with a 7-vote margin.

Vote total: Breen 10,897 Manchester 10,890

Wednesday, Nov. 5th:

The overseas and utility worker ballots were counted by the Secretary of States office in

Augusta.

At 5 p.m., SOS confirmed that after receiving the overseas ballots, Breens margin of

victory went up to a 32 vote margin.

Vote total: Breen 10,930 to Manchester 10,898

Tuesday, Nov. 18th: SD 25 RECOUNT:

Recount takes place in Augusta, resulting in 43-vote swing, Manchester winning by 11

votes

During the recount, four (4) problems were discovered:

10 missing ballots (6 from Westbrook Wards 1 & 4 (not 5), 4 from Cumberland)

9 disputed ballots (voter intent not clear to recount volunteer)

3 machine counted ballots from Gray that switched from Breen to Manchester

21 additional phantom ballots all for Manchesterappear in a Long Islandbox, but do not match election tally from Long Islands voter manifest

Maine Democratic Partys legal team refused to sign off on the overall tally of the

recount and at no time did MDPs legal team sign off on tallies for individual town

results.

The Republican Partys legal team refused multiple requests to keep the recount open,

including an onsite recount for Cumberland and Westbrook to look for the 10 missing

ballots to ensure a fair process.

Republican attorney signs off on the recount. Recount is then closed by Julie Flynn,

but remains contested by MDP. Secretary of State sends contested result to Senate, per Maine Constitution.

The unofficial recount results show Republican Cathy Manchester leading by an 11 vote

margin.

Vote total: Manchester 10,927 to Breen 10,916.

21 Phantom Ballots in Long Island Recount

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The Maine Democratic Party and its legal team were on-site for the recount.

Long Island was one of the first towns to be recounted around 9 a.m.

The Long Island ballots were prepared by the Long Island Town Clerk with a vote count

of 171.

Upon inspection of the Long Island ballots, 21 new ballots appeared that had notpreviously been counted and are unaccounted for.

These 21 ballots, all marked for Manchester, were in addition to the 171 previously

counted on the voter manifest on Election Day (that includes (walk-ins, absentee, same

day registrants)

These ballots were flagged for MDPs legal team and the Secretary of States office.

Monday, Nov. 24th:

Julie Flynn from the SoS office unsealed the Long Island voter manifest to allow

representatives from both the MDP and the GOPs legal counsel to compare the Election

Day voter list to the ballot tally.

The Long Island voter manifest confirmed only 171 voters (walk-ins, absentee, same day

registrants)

The SoS office confirmed 21 more ballots than people who voted on Long Island.

Wednesday, Nov. 26th:

Per historical context, SoS Dunlap summons Cathy Breen to be provisionally seated in

the Maine Senate on swearing-in day.

Tuesday, Dec 2nd:

Cathy Breen sends a letter to the Senators-elect of the 127th Legislature explaining she

will not take her seat in the Senate chamber until this matter is properly and

thoroughly investigated before the legislative session begins in January.

Breen calls on Manchester to join her in keeping the seat unoccupied.

Wednesday, Dec. 3rd: SWEARING IN DAY

Senate Republicans disregarded the official recommendation of Gov. LePage and

Secretary of State Dunlap by seating Cathy Manchester.

Breen, at a press conference, says she believes this decision disrespects the people ofSD 25. Our voters deserve to know that the person representing them in Augusta is

there legallynot because of some ad hoc political whim.

The special elections committee held its first organizational meeting. The 7-member

committee include Democratic Senators Dawn Hill, Bill Diamond, and Stan Gerzofsky

and Republican Senators Roger Katz (chair), Tom Saviello, Garrett Mason, Andre

Cushing.

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Next committee meeting will be held on Tuesday, December 9 at 9a in the Veterans and

Legal Affairs Committee room.