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Election ties should
require a recount
Re: “Fix California’s broken election recount system” (Page A6, May 9).
I requested California’s first recount of a statewide ballot measure and helped craft legislation mandating recounts for statewide contests within 0.00015%. But this would not have applied to the congressional race tied by Evan Low and Joe Simitian for second. Instead, a voter requested to pay for a recount, anticipating a refund of their money if the outcome changed.
Ultimately, Low was declared the second-place winner after ballots missed by error were added. The secretary of state ruled a refund would not be issued as Low advanced either way. The Santa Clara Registrar of Voters website states, “If the outcome of the recount has changed the election results in the requestor’s favor, the deposit is returned.” I believe it’s to Low’s favor to face one opponent rather than two, and a refund should be issued.
To strengthen November’s election, recount costs, which vary greatly statewide, should be standardized, and automatic recounts required in a tie.
John Maa
San Francisco
Trump’s delaying tactics
have already worked
Re: “Justice delayed — other Trump cases still matter” (Page A8, June 2).
Donald Trump is guilty. I honestly don’t know if that’s good or bad.
It could be a call to arms to save a martyr. It could mean that people remember the roiling mass of discord and lies coming from Trump and will think about not voting for him in November.
Trump portrays himself as the victim, who had an election stolen. He claims the Biden administration went after him for political reasons. He says, “If they can do this to me they can do it to you.”
Trump’s delaying tactics worked; no more court decisions will come before the election.
David Eisbach
San Jose
Oppose Trump’s
campaign for revenge
I don’t understand how good Republicans can support for president a dishonest man whose clear purpose is retribution, vengeance and personal gain rather than the good of all Americans. Even the Republican speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, has drunk the Kool-Aid and joined the dark side. The GOP, which used to be a party of high principle, has now become a mafua that we must defeat at all costs if we are to preserve our democracy.
I urge all good-thinking Republicans (and there are many) to see what has happened to their party; bite the bullet; take the bitter pill; do whatever it takes to avoid the tragedy of a second Trump term.
Likewise, oppose the creeping far-right Christian nationalism that is infiltrating all levels of government from school boards to state legislatures to Washington, D.C. You will be true patriots if you do.
Don Barnby
Menlo Park
