Missing 20 million votes?
posted at 11:55 am on November 5, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
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MS-NBC’s First Read provides the Chuckle of the Day. They claim that the nation had a record-breaking turnout despite the returns showing a lower voter turnout than 2004:
*** Highest turnout rate since ‘08 — 1908: Provided the number stands, the turnout rate for yesterday’s election was the highest in 100 years, according to the estimate from turnout guru Dr. Michael McDonald at George Mason University. Almost 137 million (136,631,825) went to the polls — 64.1% of the voting-eligible population. 1960 saw 63.7% of the populace go out to vote; In 1908, 65.7% voted. It was, of course, the most people ever to go to the polls topping 2004’s 122 million. That’s 12% increase from 2004. For those wondering why the current total vote in the presidential adds up to approximately 117 million, note that it’s going to climb. There is still a ton of vote missing on the West coast.
Apparently, no one at MS-NBC can do math. “A ton of vote missing on the West coast”? There would have to be 20 million votes missing in order to get from 117 million to 137 million. California has reported 95% of its precincts and counted almost 10 million votes. At best, they’ll get another 500K or so.
Maybe Dr. McDonald got his data from ACORN.
Update: Readers ask about absentee ballots in California as a potential source for new votes, but for those to qualify, they have to be received by the time the polls close on Election Day. They’re added to the rest of the ballots in the precinct (and checked against the rolls), and presumably counted with the rest of the ballots.
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Hey look here is a sliver lining.
http://sarah-palin-2008.blogspot.com/2008/11/how-can-we-alleviate-some-of-damage.html
Dr Evil on November 5, 2008 at 11:57 AM
Michael McDonald?
Didn’t he perform for Obama at Invesco?
Maybe he’s Takin’ [the votes] to the Streets?
Abby Adams on November 5, 2008 at 11:59 AM
Whatever…
Wake me up in 2012…
pherrman on November 5, 2008 at 11:59 AM
There is no silver lining.
clnurnberg on November 5, 2008 at 11:59 AM
That really ticks me off. A lot of those 20 million votes not cast in this election had to be conservatives, disenfranchised with their party. So, thanks to them, we now have Obama to deal with.
Then again, it might not have made a difference. Maybe I’m just bitter.
Sir Corky on November 5, 2008 at 11:59 AM
The media flimflam continues…
forest on November 5, 2008 at 12:00 PM
So who didn’t show up? The base?
Dadvocate on November 5, 2008 at 12:00 PM
Nobody “disenfranchised” the conservatives. They have held fast to Rush’s stupid, stupid “it took a Carter to get a Reagan” quip and handed us Obama so they could fantasize over a Bud Lite
clnurnberg on November 5, 2008 at 12:01 PM
Will the LA Time release the Khalid video now? I really would like to know.
lizzie-e on November 5, 2008 at 12:02 PM
so now you think its Rush’s fault????
Did Rush back McCain in the primaries ????
Jeez,,,,,
Always Right on November 5, 2008 at 12:04 PM
Have to break the numbers down state by state to get a more accurate read.
William Amos on November 5, 2008 at 12:04 PM
Well a number of those votes are Mickey Mouse’s. Why not count Cartoon Americans, multiple times to make up for the oppression they’ve suffered over the decades.
rbj on November 5, 2008 at 12:04 PM
They just CAN’T be truthful. It borders on mental illness.
marklmail on November 5, 2008 at 12:05 PM
Rush backed nobody in the primaries, just whined alot
clnurnberg on November 5, 2008 at 12:05 PM
Don’t forget to adjust your calendars to the year zero.
moxie_neanderthal on November 5, 2008 at 12:07 PM
As if we needed another reason for mandatory testing before being allowed to post on HotAir.
AubieJon on November 5, 2008 at 12:08 PM
Ok -lets be paranoid
Both Florida and Ohio are within the Acorn margin.
TV coverage of the election showed huge crowds waiting to vote, coverage of absentee balloting and early voting also suggested unusually high turnouts.
The vote counts don’t show the turnout.
So where did those votes go?
Paul Murphy on November 5, 2008 at 12:09 PM
That’s Forking BS. Rush never supported that idea – every time it’s brought up he’s debunked it, saying rightfully that we CANNOT afford an Obama presidency.
*eats*
Grue in the Attic on November 5, 2008 at 12:09 PM
I’ve been busy and didn’t have a chance to check this morning. Did anyone notice if the seas stopped rising and the planet began healing? I mean… it had to start, right?
Sugar Land on November 5, 2008 at 12:10 PM
Is that ‘0000′ or ‘2008.0′…I’m confused
inldad0967 on November 5, 2008 at 12:11 PM
What I want to know is if the Dems managed to disenfranchise the military again.
Vic on November 5, 2008 at 12:13 PM
We had 3 million less voters than in 2004. The whiny, so-called conservatives stayed home and blacks and kids turned out. By kids I mean college and Kos.
Vince on November 5, 2008 at 12:13 PM
I stopped voting absentee in CA in 2000 when I learned that those ballots are NOT counted until AFTER the election…can anyone tell me if this practice has changed since then?
ocbrat on November 5, 2008 at 12:15 PM
But it was Rush who said it first. He may have disowned it later, but his callers brought it up because he SAID it first.
clnurnberg on November 5, 2008 at 12:16 PM
Link to it, please. Otherwise, go whine somewhere else.
AubieJon on November 5, 2008 at 12:17 PM
“pherrman on November 5, 2008 at 11:59 AM”
i’d prefer you stay awake and help us re-take at least one house in 2010 …
/since THAT election is what needs to be focused on — “‘10 comes before ‘12!!” is my new rallying cry
Buckaroo on November 5, 2008 at 12:17 PM
Yeah, here in Texas, things are noticeably better. And with no drilling for oil, no mining for coal, no nukes, and waiting 30 or 50 years for solar/wind energy to become viable, I can just tell the bright days are just beginning.
Don’t worry about energy prices, though: Your power will be off much of the time, so you won’t be affected by the “skyrocketing” energy prices, and it won’t matter about the high cost of gas, because you won’t have a job to drive to. But thank Obama that the planet’s healing.
mr.blacksheep on November 5, 2008 at 12:18 PM
“lizzie-e on November 5, 2008 at 12:02 PM”
no, they won’t — we can only hope a 3rd party gets it into someone’s hands in the next 60 days …
Buckaroo on November 5, 2008 at 12:18 PM
Aubie, nobody needs your permission
clnurnberg on November 5, 2008 at 12:18 PM
The conservatives abandon their *principal- belief in (small Govt),and (Less (Taxes).
There was no clear articulation of how we govern the people as this nation.
Mixed up and confused in search for clarity, affirmation.
Today!. We change this course and begin anew-starting out at the local level while grooming our future leaders of tomorrow.
I do believe that Gov. Palin, has a prominent role with in the foundation of conservatism. I see a bright and glorious journey ahead, where the new transformation of our younger generation of true and prideful America with knowledge that thru hard work and perserverence…the America Dreams Do Come True………
Smile all….life is a wonderful journey.
hawkman on November 5, 2008 at 12:19 PM
Well, whoever did support the idiotic “it took a Carter to get a Reagan” BS … congratulations. We’ve got out carter now.
Thanks a lot.
wise_man on November 5, 2008 at 12:19 PM
And nobody needs your unfounded finger pointing.
AubieJon on November 5, 2008 at 12:19 PM
“Sugar Land on November 5, 2008 at 12:10 PM”
i think duh1 gets a pass on that until 1/20 …
/annnnd, of course the media will continue to give him one even after that …
Buckaroo on November 5, 2008 at 12:20 PM
“wise_man on November 5, 2008 at 12:19 PM”
as we touched on last nite — he’s their problem now!
:-)
Buckaroo on November 5, 2008 at 12:20 PM
“clnurnberg on November 5, 2008 at 12:18 PM’
dude, smearing rush [founded or unfounded] is not gonna git ya anywhere — my $.02 — stow it …
/shrug
Buckaroo on November 5, 2008 at 12:22 PM
MS-NBC – the hose-pail channel.
whitetop on November 5, 2008 at 12:24 PM
Ed, this is the new math don’t ya know. This is the beginning of the Obama era… where facts are whatever MSNBC says they are.
I think it is time to invest in satellite radio. If the fairness doctrine is going to be the law of the land we need to prepare to move to another medium rather than broadcast radio. I hope all you radio guys are considering a back up plan to keep freedom of speech alive in America.
Sort of a voice of America for America.
petunia on November 5, 2008 at 12:27 PM
So has the earth started healing yet? Anyone check the ocean levels?
rbj on November 5, 2008 at 12:27 PM
The call went out to save the Republic, and this is what they did for Clinton’s second term.
Now we all get to suffer in the Progressive States of America (Pronounced ‘pissah’)
Hening on November 5, 2008 at 12:28 PM
Here’s what I think,this election should of been
some what closer than it was!
In my opinion,it looks like the Republicans didn’t
even vote!
Sumpin ain’t right!!
canopfor on November 5, 2008 at 12:28 PM
Today, I am wearing black, and will do so for 40 days of mourning. It will be my silent statement about what I think about the legacy media’s coronation of a quasi-communist who was backed by vote-fraud-generating ACORN supporters and who attended one of the most racist churches in the USA.
Barry will not be my President, ever. My one goal over the next four years will be to avoid being exposed to him in any fashion — print, TV news, magazines, etc. I will be obtaining my news through my blogs and preferred alternative news sites. I will also be buying stock in satellite radio just in case the Fairness Doctrine is re-instated.
To those supporters who want to gloat, I have this to say — I am looking forward to my tax cuts, free college for my son, free health care, low energy prices from alternative fuels, and a world that is terrorist free in which the USA is cherished. I can see by this mornings news that Hamas lobbed 35 missiles into Israel to celebrate Barry’s victory. Good start! Trust me, I for one plan to hold Barry’s feet to the fire to live up to all is campaign promises.
That is enough venting for now. I will be back soon for more.
Mutnodjmet on November 5, 2008 at 12:29 PM
If McDonald is right, and it sure did appear that people on both the left and the right were more energized this time around than in ‘04, not to mention the big early vote push, where did the big turnout go in terms of votes? I don’t get it.
What, more people voted but the votes don’t show up in the totals?
PaddyJ on November 5, 2008 at 12:30 PM
Great! After “The longest wet kiss in American history” [Barber(R-MS)], we get to second base. I can’t wait until the media feels his full thrust!
Elektra on November 5, 2008 at 12:35 PM
Down the memory hole.
indythinker on November 5, 2008 at 12:37 PM
Regardless of that being the case or not, the onus falls to us for calling on our state representatives to FIX the voter registration and voting irregularites. Fraud has been highlighted in this election like no other election I can remember. We need to hold our states responsible.
Oh, and lets not forget that ACORN receives federal money. THIS MUST END.
Marine_Bio on November 5, 2008 at 12:38 PM
The Khalidi video has probably already been destroyed. They will never do anything to harm their Messiah.
FreeThinkerNYC on November 5, 2008 at 12:38 PM
Right now, my bigger problem is wondering if I will be able to afford enough liquor to remain at least partially comatose for the next 4 years.
Barb Dwyer on November 5, 2008 at 12:40 PM
Don’t stop demanding to see it. Now that the elections are over, it’s even more critical.
Phoenician on November 5, 2008 at 12:44 PM
Unfortunately that will likely involve a second job. Pelosi is planning a special session of congress for a legislative “Party”. Barry O will have plenty of crap to sign on his desk day 1. They’ve already committed to taking all outer continental shelf exploration off the table, and Dingy Harry has already tried to take oil shale off the table.
We’re so screwed, the price of oil will be going back up shortly. Take a picture of the price at your cheapest local gas station. You will not see that price much longer.
Marine_Bio on November 5, 2008 at 12:48 PM
I believe the base showed up, however IMHO what killed McCain was there wasn’t enough PUMA votes, Independant votes, and hispanic votes going to McCain, that’s what killed McCain.
I was really hoping that the American people would renew my faith in them by electing McCain, yet they didn’t which in my opinion validates France’s opinion of us, that most (not all) American’s are fat and stupid! Seriously, only an idiot would vote for such an empty suited inexperienced, pop icon, radical as Obama. Apparently many in America thought they were voting for the next “American Idol” last night and not for president!
I am very fearful for our future as a nation under Obama and there are many reasons to be fearful and I’m certain I’m not the only one feeling this way.
Liberty or Death on November 5, 2008 at 12:49 PM
Missing votes? Trick or treat
heroyalwhyness on November 5, 2008 at 12:54 PM
I believe that the *Registration- and *Voting early need reform in a big way!!!….If our citizen’s so feel inclined to vote, then the citizen should take more responsibility to initiate that williness to register themselves…not by *paid taxpayers* dollar’s. Too a 90 day’s limit, as too verify all legal voting process. “The dead and young should not be used to skewer our national right to vote..
The ideal voting process should only begin One week before national election as too not deter *media perception(s)*. that could lead to a premature result, and deter the other citizens from showing up to vote.
There is way too many chances of false balloting.
hawkman on November 5, 2008 at 12:55 PM
Oh yeah. You’re standing with at least 55,821,650 voters, and who knows how many who didn’t even bother dragging to the polls.
Whats up with that? Does that mean that more republicans were scared of Kerry than O? That’s absolutely ridiculous, something else has to have occurred.
Marine_Bio on November 5, 2008 at 12:55 PM
Facts are the new form of irrelevant debate ;-)
Marine_Bio: The reason the number’s lower isn’t due to the fear factor, it’s the love factor. Bringing Palin on board didn’t energize ALL of the conservative base. Lots of folks still remember McCain’s immigration position.
Eric Cantor running for minority leader. I’m for him!
hawksruleva on November 5, 2008 at 1:00 PM
Personal observations: I am on a 4pm to 4am slot this week and found folks who had not voted yet were still wrestling with the application of logic vs. emotion. Me thinks many of the undecided remained that way and didn’t vote at all or skipped the presidential ballot. The liberal guilt and healing meme played a significant role, though only because McCain was such a poor candidate. The MSM will only get worst in their whortastic bias, The Messiah will continue to enjoy “God mode”.
Healing we will feel!
dmann on November 5, 2008 at 1:08 PM
California, as of this morning, is reporting about 10million votes. 12.5 million voted in 2004. They probably have about 2.5-3 million more to go. They include the late-arriving absentee votes and provisional ballots.
DaveO on November 5, 2008 at 1:11 PM
It was OK for Democrats to question voting techniques, voter fraud, disenfranchisement, etc.when Gore was running. But I guess conservatives aren’t allowed to do that.
Folks-I guess the liberal voting block won bcs they voted, & voted often.
The rising of the dead in many places probably also had something to do with it.
I will not rejoice over an OBama win. I will not rejoice over Obama’s screw-ups that are coming. I will be lamenting the “new Carter years.”
Badger40 on November 5, 2008 at 1:18 PM
If I read things correctly, here’s what happened.
McDonald came up with the 136 million estimate based on results at the 88% of the precincts that had finished counting at the time he made his estimate. I think he assumed that the remaining 12% of precincts would see votes cast at the same rate.
This assumption was probably right in 2000 and even in 2004 when the outcome of the election didn’t become clear for quite a while. Yesterday, however, Ohio and Pennsylvania were called for Obama while voting was still progressing further west. Once those two states were called, the game was over for McCain. I imagine at that point many people in that remaining 12% of precincts just couldn’t be bothered to go vote.
factoid on November 5, 2008 at 1:18 PM
No one individual, including Rush Limbaugh, is to blame for anybody not voting. We all have free will. If we are motivated to vote we will, if we aren’t we won’t. It’s as simple as that.
technopeasant on November 5, 2008 at 1:19 PM
If we need to make anything illegal, it should be the press’ calling votes for a candidate. We need to stop all this analyzing of the polls while voting is occurring.
People are stupid enough to take the media’s word for this crap.
Badger40 on November 5, 2008 at 1:20 PM
Are you being sarcastic? Clearly, no one who voted for this guy finds anything about him objectionable, even his suspected anti-Semitic views – and that includes a very large percentage of Jewish voters (77% according to exit polls).
It’s a shock to the rest of us that nobody cares, but obviously they don’t.
capitalist piglet on November 5, 2008 at 1:30 PM
I agree with Badger40; calling a state before all the votes are counted should be banned.
The networks made false, biased calls in 2000 that had a huge impact on that election.
Pythagoras on November 5, 2008 at 1:38 PM
Here is something strange– California just passed Prop 8, banning gay marriage (again), by a 4 point spread. They voted for Obama by 61-37%. Obama was prominently featured in No on 8 ads daily here, along with Feinstein and Villaragossa, the L.A. mayor.
The California people are NOT sold on the gay/liberal agenda as of yet. The North coast is Marxist territory, but even Obama and the heavy spending of the media’s darling homos couldn’t defeat Prop 8. The voters rebuked the state Supreme Court and took back the rule of law.
I say this to tell you it is not all lost, even in deep blue states. McCain was incredibly incompetent as a Republican and campaigner, but he is now finished. We can turn the state around, especially after 4 years of gay rights giveaways in an Obama administration.
leftnomore on November 5, 2008 at 2:01 PM
Not yet, but green house gas levels should decrease as white house gas levels increase.
labrat on November 5, 2008 at 2:07 PM
It is my understanding that in some jurisdictions, absentee ballots are not counted unless there are enough of them to make a difference in a race. If, for example, there are 1,000 absentee ballots and no race is closer than 1,000 votes, the ballots get “sealed” but remain uncounted unless a result is contested and once the result is “certified” they get chucked.
I remember reading that after the 2000 vote when the popular vote was the main issue and the subject came up that nobody knows what the popular vote *really* was because so many absentee ballots in many jurisdictions were never counted because there weren’t enough of them to make any difference. I recall reading that more absentee ballots were thrown out uncounted nationwide than the difference in recorded votes between the candidates but counting them wouldn’t have made a difference in the electoral college outcome because in each given jurisdiction, there weren’t enough absentee ballots to make a difference … except in Florida.
crosspatch on November 5, 2008 at 2:08 PM
Oh, and I wonder if anything will happen over the discovery that over 100,000 Ohio voters were also registered in Georgia and Florida.
crosspatch on November 5, 2008 at 2:13 PM
Wonder what Keith Overbite is gonna cry and whine about on his show every night, now that Santa Claus has been elected?
I guess he can bitch about Santa Claus not giving enough
presents to those poor poor blacks.
I love how the media was saying if Osama lost, those poor blacks were gonna riot, well come we don’t get to riot if we lose?
WHERE’S OUR RIOT?!
dinkyjackson on November 5, 2008 at 2:13 PM
L.A. Times response:
Tape—what tape?
And who is this Khalidi guy you keep talking about?
dirtseller on November 5, 2008 at 2:41 PM
In light of Sarah Palin’s phenomenal popularity and potential to be an agent of change on a national level, what do you think she should do in the immediate future?
Please vote in our poll.
http://www.sarah-palin-2008.blogspot.com
History Chaser on November 5, 2008 at 2:42 PM
Gov. Palin will probably take a Senate seat to stabilize the Body- Would be a nice to know that there is an anchor within the conservative party.
Make a run in 2012/2016?
Either way she goes- I will follow. Gov Palin has good leadership and Judgement for America.
:)
hawkman on November 5, 2008 at 3:01 PM
THIS “ELECTION” WAS A FRAUD!
It’s time to revolt against the media-ocracy.
In Va…there was WAY more Mccain signs than there were Bush signs in either election…and Bush won by nearly 10%!
Not only that but in 2004 there were WAY more John Kerry signs than Obsama signs.
There is no way these results are accurate. Not a chance.
SaintOlaf on November 5, 2008 at 3:37 PM
EXACTLY, I`m not say this is the only thing that happened but it was probably a contributing factor.
NY Conservative on November 5, 2008 at 3:41 PM
So where did those votes go?
Paul Murphy on November 5, 2008 at 12:09 PM
Here is a possibility, at 7:05 AM at my polling place there were already six of us that had Provisional ballots. They are not counted unless the race is close, and only 10 days later.
N4646W on November 5, 2008 at 3:50 PM
Absolutely. Huge interest. Huge turnouts. Early voting. Palinmania.
All this equals a drop in voters? And convenient narrow losses in the swing states?
Stinks like a dirty fish.
PaddyJ on November 5, 2008 at 3:53 PM
AOL News shows 121 Million voted. So where are those 16 million missing votes?
katablog.com on November 5, 2008 at 4:24 PM
Look, when you have states like PA and Ohio voting for Obama despite him guaranteeing to kill jobs in those states, there’s not much you can do. The Dems own the ignorant vote, and unfortunately, there are more ignorant voters around today than not. Until that changes, Dems will continue to win.
xblade on November 5, 2008 at 4:36 PM
I like Palin, but if we can’t do better than her in 2012, Obamasan will win.
xblade on November 5, 2008 at 4:39 PM
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