Attorneys for Rita Hart, the Democrat who lost Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District race by six votes, claimed on Dec. 22 they had found enough uncounted ballots to reverse the election outcome. Hart told the House of Representatives in a petition filed under the Federal Contested Elections Act of 1969 that 22 uncounted curbside and absentee ballots included 18 votes for her, three for her Republican opponent, Mariannette Miller-Meeks, and one for neither candidate. If those 22 ballots are included in the final total, Hart claimed she would defeat Miller-Meeks by nine votes. The Iowa State Board of Elections previously certified Miller-Meeks as the winner. Miller-Meeks has 30 days to respond to Hart’s petition to the House, which was prepared by Attorney Marc Elias of the Washington-based law firm Perkins Coie that often represents Democratic campaign committees and candidates. Although state governments conduct congressional elections and certify the winners, the Constitution …