Gap Closes For Arizona Medical Marijuana Measure...

[+RevThad]

Well it's not over in Arizona quiet yet, the gap closed even further last night, as it was cut in half with counting on Thursday. They have until the end of today to finish the counting and have around 49000 votes left to count. Out of the 49000 votes they need a net gain of around 1500 yes votes to pass the measure, however proponents are probably hoping for a swing of around 2000 to avoid the recount process that would occur if the totals are within 200 votes. Should be an interesting finish to this one, and hopefully tomorrow our brothers and sisters in Arizona will join us in allowing the use of medical marijuana.

 

Here is the most recent story from out that way...

 

 

Gap closes for Arizona medical marijuana measure

* By: ABC15.com staff, wire reports

 

PHOENIX - A measure to legalize medical marijuana in Arizona is still trailing but the gap is closing.

 

The measure was about 3,100 votes below the 50 percent plus one needed for passage after more votes were counted on Thursday afternoon. But by Thursday night when more totals were posted, the measure was losing by less than 1,500 votes.

 

Elections officials say about 14,000 early ballots and 45,000 provisional ballots are left to be processed and counted from the Nov. 2 election. Most are in Maricopa County with rest in Gila, Coconino, Yuma and Yavapai counties. Officials have until Friday to complete the count.

 

The measure has trailed in daily tallies since Election Day.

 

Medical marijuana proposals in 1996 and 1998 were approved but they never took effect. A more sweeping 2002 proposal lost.

 

Officials have until Friday to complete the count.

 

The Secretary of State’s office released these measures pertaining to a possible recount:

 

State law reads as follows:

 

16-661. Automatic recount; requirements; exemption

A. A recount of the vote is required when the canvass of returns in a primary or general election shows that the margin between the two candidates receiving the greatest number of votes for a particular office, or between the number of votes cast for and against initiated or referred measures or proposals to amend the Constitution of Arizona, is less than or equal to the lesser of the following:

 

1. One-tenth of one per cent of the number of votes cast for both such candidates or upon such measures or proposals.

 

2. Two hundred votes in the case of an office to be filled by state electors and for which the total number of votes cast is more than twenty-five thousand.

 

3. Fifty votes in the case of an office to be filled by state electors and for which the total number of votes cast is twenty-five thousand or less.

 

4. Two hundred votes in the case of an initiated or referred measure or proposal to amend the constitution.

 

5. Fifty votes in the case of a member of the legislature.

 

Example: A margin of less than or equal to 200 votes would trigger a recount for each statewide proposition. Remember: There is no provision in state law allowing a candidate or ballot-measure committee to demand a recount.

[AbsoluteRoyal]

http://www.kpho.com/arizona/25778032/detail.html

 

"Proposition 203 is ahead by 4,421 votes out of more than 1.63 million votes counted. The measure started out losing by about 7,200 votes on Nov. 2 and the gap gradually narrowed in the following 10 days."