As I explained in this post, it looks like Roy Moore cannot request a recount in the Alabama Senate race if the margin is greater than 0.5% (there’s an automatic recount for the 0.5% range). Last night on CNN, Alabama SOS John Merrill got it wrong, saying that Moore could pay for a recount in the larger range. The statute does not allow this for federal offices.
I understand that Merrill may have made an error in the heat of the election (but truly, this is something he should have known going into such a high profile and closely watched election).
But what explains his failure to correct things now? We are moving from a mistake to possibly something else.
More: WKRG reports: “Election Law Expert Argues Moore Cannot Request Recount”
WaPo: Why Roy Moore’s hope for a recount is a very long long shot
UPDATE: SOS Merrill has now blocked me on twitter.
And rather than respond to me on the merits, the Alabama Secretary of State, its chief election officer, has blocked me on Twitter. Unreal. pic.twitter.com/a3Rzeo224O
— Rick Hasen (@rickhasen) December 13, 2017