by David Ammons | November 5th, 2009
With Seattle and Tacoma mayoral races uber-close — and other contests as well – we’re getting the inevitable questions about the R word — recount.
Here’s the crash course:
–The basic rule is that a recount is mandatory if the margin is less than one-half of 1 percent and also less than 2,000 votes. (If you want to look up the citation, it’s RCW 29A.64.021. If you want to wait for the movie, that’s OK, too.)
–A manual recount, as opposed to a machine recount, is required if the gap is less than a quarter of 1 percent and also less than 1,000 votes apart.
–In regional and local offices, a manual recount is conducted if the margin is less than 150 votes and a quarter of 1 percent.
–Ballot measures? Basically the same. If the margin is less than 2,000 votes and less than one-half of 1 percent of the votes cast, then recount is mandatory. The state decides whether to use a machine or hand recount.
At the moment, our crack electionwatchers say they’re unaware of any definite recounts needed — but of course there are still mucho ballots to count. In Tacoma, at last count, City Councilwoman Marilyn Strickland had a 114-vote lead over architect Jim Merritt in the race for mayor, or about six-tenths of 1 percentage point. Seattle also is waiting to find out who succeeds two-term Mayor Greg Nickels. Mike McGinn has a weensy 515-vote edge over the other Mike, Mallahan, or 0.4 percentage points.
The only sort-of-close state measure is Referendum 71, which will approve or veto the new expansion of the state domestic partnership laws. As of late afternoon, the “approve” side is leading by 62,122 votes, or 5 percentage points (651,834 for approval and 589,712 to reject).
Know any other really close races? Let us know.
Thank you for posting this, great information! For a “micro” view of when your vote counts, check out the Whatcom County Water District 13 race for commission position 5 in Maple Falls. As of the 5pm Thursday update, candidates Kaye Koenig and Phil Cloward each have 69 votes. In an election this small, one vote could swing the whole election. Even on the larger scale, we see that for state-wide ballot measures like R-71, the difference is only about 55,000 votes. We have 15 cities with populations larger than that in our state, so, yes, you and your next-door neighbors votes could be the difference!
What about Finn Hill, Kingsgate and North Juanita Annexation Area Proposition A, regarding a Proposed Annexation, Assumption of Indebtedness, and Adoption of Zoning Regulations? The vote is currently passing by .6 percent but has been trending downwards. Could this trigger a recount?