PCO ties a-plenty in Spokane County

The state’s major political parties don’t like the new primary election law, but it could provide them with an unexpected bonus: extra precinct officers.
Many of the state’s elections officers do like the new “top two” system, but it will cause them extra work: more ties and recounts for those ground-level elective offices.
Except for precinct committee officers, races on the Spokane County ballot were settled Wednesday as elections officials certified results from the Aug. 19 primary. For state, county and legislative offices, there were no changes from the first count on election night. The one remaining close race, for second place in a central Spokane’s 3rd Legislative District House race, went to Chris Bowen who beat fellow Republican Laura Carder by 36 votes and will face incumbent Rep. Alex Wood in the Nov. 4 general election.
But elections for about 40 precinct committee officers in Spokane County are either tied or separated by one or two votes, which means they will need recounts required by state law.