Incumbent Fifth District Congressman Virgil Goode announced today that he intends to ask that late-arriving military ballots be included in next week’s recount. Goode has called upon the declared winner, Tom Perriello, to join him.
"We have said from the beginning that this recount is not about overturning the results of the Election. This is about getting it right," said Goode in a press release issued earlier today. "The brave Americans who cast these absentee ballots are putting their lives on the line every day to protect and preserve our right to vote, free from fear and intimidation, in open, fair, and honest elections."
In a press release issued moments ago in response, Perriello agreed. "Our brave troops serving overseas absolutely deserve to have their voices heard and their votes counted in this election and all elections as they fight for our Democracy," said Perriello. "That is why I strongly believe that those military ballots in question that arrived late and were held aside should be included in the vote count of Virginia’s 5th District."
The issue stems from a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Department of Justice to force the Commonwealth to recognize and accept absentee ballots that came in from military stationed overseas. According to Goode’s campaign, there are reports that thousands of ballots may have been mailed out late by registrars in Virginia leaving soldiers with not enough time to receive the ballot, vote and send it back before November 4.
U.S. District Judge Richard L. Williams decided not to order the state to count the late-arriving ballots because the results of the elections were already certified.
Perriello’s spokesperson Jessica Barba said Goode is playing politics on the issue by bringing it up at this point. The Fifth District recount is slated for December 16 and 17.
"Given that Virgil Goode and Congressman-elect Perriello agree on this issue, it’s clear that Mr. Goode’s statement to the press is an unfortunate attempt to play politics with our troops’ right to vote," said Barba. "While election officials are working incredibly hard to maintain the integrity of the democratic process and the recount, it’s regrettable that Mr. Goode is choosing to insert politics into the mix."