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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Election recount 101

From staff reports

With Republican Dino Rossi holding a 261-vote edge over Democrat Christine Gregoire, elections officials will be conducting a county-by-county machine recount of the votes.

State law requires a recount if the margin of victory is less than 0.5 percent and 2,000 votes. If a margin of victory is less than 150 votes, a hand recount is required.

What gets counted again?

Each of the 39 counties simply retabulates all the ballots that were counted originally. In the original count, final determinations are made by the county canvassing boards on what votes will be counted.

The recount does not allow a review of decisions by the county canvassing boards of what constitutes a vote. Thus, the same ballots counted in the original count will simply be re-tabulated.

When will we have a final vote?

Secretary of State Sam Reed’s office estimates that the recount will be finished by next Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving.

Reed ordered the recount last Wednesday, the legal deadline for certifying the election results. Spokane and King counties, along with other larger counties, will begin counting Saturday. Other counties will start Monday.

How long does the recount take?

Most counties can recount all ballots in one day. Some counties may take two days. Spokane County will take two days, and possibly part of a third. King County will need approximately four days.

The secretary of state is required to certify the election returns 30 days after the general election. This year that date falls on Dec. 2.

Is the recount a public process?

Yes. Each county is required to provide notice to the candidates and political parties and each may have officially designated observers at the recount. Counties have the responsibility to ensure the recount is conducted in a fair and impartial manner and may control access to recount procedures by members of the public consistent with this responsibility. Spokane County’s recount will start at 8 a.m. Saturday at the county elections office, 1033 W. Gardner.

Have statewide recounts in Washington reversed elections in the past?

No. No statewide race has ever been changed by a recount.

But for reasons that are unclear – and may just be coincidence – Washington recounts in recent years have favored Democrats.

For example, in 2000, a recount gained Democrat Maria Cantwell 177 votes in her race for Senate. Sen. Slade Gorton lost 99 votes. The same year, in the race for secretary of state, Democrat Don Bonker picked up 95 votes in a recount. Republican Sam Reed lost 172.

Could there be another recount?

Yes. Any candidate or party officer can request a recount in any race, but the race can only be made after Reed certifies the returns on Dec. 2.

Whoever requests the recount has to pay a deposit. For a hand recount, the deposit would be $700,000. For a machine recount, the deposit would be $420,000.

If the recount reverses the outcome of the election, the deposit is returned.