Sept. 30, 2005
King County Elections prepares for a recount
King County Elections is preparing for an efficient recount of the King County Sheriff's race and a quick turnaround for the General Election.
Though the difference between Candidates Schmidt and Fuda in the Sheriff's race triggers an automatic manual recount, the candidates agreed late Friday afternoon to forgo a countywide manual recount and employ a little used statue allowing candidates to select a mutually agreed upon alternative recount. That recount agreed upon will be a machine recount of 10 randomly selected precincts in each of the 17 legislative districts within King County .
"We are still working out the details on how this recount will be conducted, but this is something we do well,"said Dean Logan, Director of Records, Elections and Licensing. "With just five weeks between the Primary and General Elections, the improvements we have made will play a crucial role in ensuring an efficient recount."
King County has located a secure facility for counting and sorting ballots, is working with the county political parties to hire people for the recount and is arranging security for a recount expected to begin early next week.
Employees will spend the weekend sorting ballots by precinct. The actual machine recount of the selected precinct ballots will be scheduled for early next week. The county's vote tabulation system will be re-programmed to look only at the votes cast for Sheriff. The recount result will be compared to the certified results for validation. The recount is expected to be completed by Thursday, October 6.
"We are hiring people to help conduct the recount efficiently so we can begin preparing for the General Election," said Logan . "Under normal circumstances, we would begin building the ballot for the General Election the day after certification. The recount will delay that process by about a week. Under these circumstances, it will take extraordinary efforts to ensure everything is in place for the November General Election."
State law requires a machine or manual recount depending on the margin of difference between candidates. A machine recount is required if the difference between candidates is less than 2,000 AND also less than .05 percent of the total votes cast for both candidates. A manual recount is required if the difference is less than 150 votes AND also less than .025 percent of the total votes cast for both candidates. The law also allows the candidates to agree on an alternative recount.
Complicating things this year is the short time between certifying the Primary and conducting the General Election. Immediately following certification of the Primary, staff has three days to produce 10 editions of the voters' pamphlet ranging from 80 to176 pages, 10 days to build and mail military ballots, and 19 days to build and mail absentee ballots to more than 600,000 voters.
"We have concentrated a lot on improving our processes and quality control measures, which should prepare us well for a short turn around between the Primary and the General," said Logan . "And, our staff is committed to put in the extra hours necessary to get the job done."
|
