Blanching at Blanche?

The lead article in today’s New York Times, “Incumbent Holds Her Senate Seat in Arkansas Race,” describes the results of yesterday’s elections in Arkansas, South Carolina and other states across the nation.

In a surprise result, Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas retained the Democratic nomination despite a spirited challenge from the left and unioins after she helped to kill the public option in President Obama’s healthcare bill. Her victory shows the power of incumbency, and it’s not all legitimate.

Cable news shows described how the Governor reduced the number of polls open in areas of the state where her opponent, Lieutenant Governor Bill Halter, finished strongly in their initial primary (this was a runoff after Senator Lincoln failed to get 50 percent of the vote). People reported long waits to vote, and one observer noted how there were only two polling stations to handle 500 people per hour of the expected turnout.

This shortage of polling stations was repeated in several areas where Mr. Halter was counting on support, but somehow there were adequate facilities in parts of the state where Senator Lincoln was strong.

The Republican Governor of Ohio pulled a similar trick in the election for President between Senator Kerry and George W. Bush. Areas of the state with a heavy African-American population somehow had lines requiring hours of waiting in order to vote. This proved to be the margin of victory in Mr. Bush carrying the state.

These tactics should be challenged in a lawsuit by Mr. Halter, but that seems unlikely to occur.