http://nytimes.com/2004/11/17/politics/17ohio.html

Most Ballots Pass Scrutiny, Ohio Officials Say
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: November 17, 2004

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Nov. 16 - The vast majority of provisional ballots cast in Ohio have been legitimate, election officials said, after spending nearly two weeks poring over thousands of disputed votes.

In the 11 counties that have completed checking ballots, 81 percent of the ballots are valid, according to a survey Monday by The Associated Press.

Most of the provisional ballots rejected so far came from people who were not registered to vote, election officials said. Others were missing information like addresses or signatures, or were from people voting in precincts where they did not live.

Unofficial vote totals show President Bush beating Senator John Kerry by 136,000 votes in Ohio, and Mr. Kerry has conceded there are not enough outstanding votes to swing the state his way.

It is too early to know whether the provisional ballots have benefited Mr. Bush or Mr. Kerry, because counties first need to determine their validity before conducting the count.

Some people said they were holding out hope for a miracle until all votes were counted. Lawyers with Mr. Kerry's campaign were in Ohio to check into voters' concerns about ballots, but said they were not trying to challenge the election.

The counties have until Dec. 1 to complete their final count.

The focus is on the 155,337 provisional ballots cast by Ohio voters. Provisional ballots are cast by voters whose names are not on the rolls for some reason or whose eligibility is otherwise in doubt, and are counted after the election is over if they are deemed valid.