Off By 1365 Ballots in Only Six Wards

Washburn is reviewing the ballots from Milwaukee in the 2004 Presidential election.  It’s very troubling.

Ward 44 had 470 more ballots scanned than handed to electors. Here is the paperwork.
Ward 54 had 449 more ballots scanned than handed to electors. Here is the paperwork.
Ward 1 had 148 more ballots scanned than handed to electors. Here is the paperwork.
Ward 59 had 144 fewer ballots scanned than handed to electors. Here is the paperwork.
Ward 76 had 79 more ballots scanned than handed to electors. Here is the paperwork.
Ward 12 had 75 more ballots scanned than handed to electors. Here is the paperwork.

This is a variance of 1365 ballots (1077 net), confined to only six wards in the City of Milwaukee.

It could be somebody stuffing the ballot boxes, rank incompetance by election officials, or both.  But when Bush only lost Wisconsin by a few thousand votes each time, it’s extremely troubling.  Furthermore, if it happened in that election, who knows how often it goes on for other elections where races are decided by hundreds of votes.