Ballot recount may be needed in Orcas Rec race

A slim margin between candidates for the Orcas Island Park and Recreation District Commissioner No. 1 position could result in a mandatory recount for the San Juan County Elections Office.

Whether a mandatory recount is required will not be known until the last ballot is counted and the Canvass Board certifies the General Election on November 24.

As it now stands, Vicki Vandermay is ahead of Marian O’Brien 791 to 784, a difference of only 7 votes. If the difference widens to 8 votes, no recount will be necessary.

State law says that if the difference in the number of votes cast for a candidate apparently elected to any office and the number of votes cast for the closest apparently defeated opponent is less that two thousand votes and less than one-half of one percent of the total number of votes cast for both candidates, the county Canvassing Board shall conduct a machine recount of all votes cast on that position. If the difference in the number of votes cast for the apparent winner and the closest apparently defeated opponent is less than one hundred fifty votes and less than one-fourth of one percent of the total number of votes cast for both candidates, the votes shall be recounted manually.

The Canvass Board is scheduled to meet in the Elections Office at 55 Second Street in Friday Harbor at 8:30 a.m. on Nov. 24 to certify the election results. If a recount is necessary, the recount will take place immediately following the Canvass Board meeting.