Give It Up For Ralph!

Ralph Nader is calling for a recount:

"Ralph Nader, an independent presidential candidate this year, has called for recounts of the November 2 voting results, saying that amid allegations of irregularities, he wanted to ensure every ballot was counted.

Nader, who this year drew about one percent of the vote nationally, told a press conference on Wednesday that he was speaking out for the "thousands" of American voters asking for recounts and not on his own behalf.

"Over 2 000 citizens, including voting rights advocates, are urging in writing the Nader Camejo campaign to help make sure every vote is counted and counted accurately. The Nader Camejo campaign does not view the election to be over merely because concession speeches, which have no legal effect, have been given. Rather they are over when every vote is counted and legally certified," Nader said.

He urged recounts particularly in the hotly disputed states of Ohio and Florida, which went to Bush, New Hampshire which went to Kerry, and North Carolina, which went to Bush.

Nader highlighted irregularities, including one reported earlier in an Ohio polling station where 638 voters cast ballots but results showed 4 258 voted for Bush, and 260 for Kerry.

'Striking inconsistencies exist between the vote as reported on the AccuVote Diebold Machines and exit polls and voting trends in New Hampshire. These irragularities in the reported vote count favour president George Bush by five to 15 percent over what was expected.

'Problems in these electronic voting machines and optical scanners are being reported in machines in a variety of states,' Nader added. "