By Eleanor Boudreau
Memphis, TN – Two court cases which pit losing candidates from the August 5th election against the Shelby County Election Commission were in the same division of Chancery Court today in preparation for the two cases being consolidated.
Plaintiffs allege the election was "incurably uncertain," in part, because they say the Election Commission certified about 3,000 more ballots than there were voters at the polls. Plaintiff and attorney Democrat Regina Newman said these 3,000 ballots were not distributed evenly throughout the county but came disproportionately from precincts that leaned Republican.
Lawyer for the Election Commission John Ryder said the plaintiffs have "misinterpreted the data."
There are two ongoing official investigations into the August 5th election--one by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation which is only looking at Election Day August 5th (and not early voting), and one by the Tennessee Secretary of State's Office. Congressman Steve Cohen has asked the Department of Justice to investigate, too--so far with no response.
In the absence of official, third-party investigation results Shelby County Democrats have continued their own investigation which, they say, has turned up two anonymous Election Commission employees--(John Doe I and John Doe II)--with details about inappropriate behavior by the Election Commission. John Doe I and II will not be a part of the court cases. Anonymous testimony is not allowed in court.
A motion to dismiss one of the cases will be heard next Friday.