From Clatsop County:Final Vote Tally Due Monday November 17, 2008

Thursday, November 13, 2008

TALLY OF UNCOUNTED BALLOTS SET FOR MONDAY

Clatsop County’s tally in the Nov. 4 general election will finally be complete Monday, when almost 200 uncounted ballots from Clatsop County voters will be opened and counted by the Clatsop County Elections Division.
Most of the 189 ballots currently received by the elections office are from county voters that for one reason or another were mailed to or dropped off at elections offices in other counties. All the ballots underwent a signature verification process on Wednesday at the County Clerk’s Office.
The ballots will be counted at the Judge Guy Boyington Building beginning at 1 p.m. Monday, Nov. 17.
On Thursday, Nov. 20, the elections office will conduct a hand recount of ballots for three election races from Precinct 26, under a new state law that mandates sample “administrative” recounts of votes from randomly selected precincts and races by all Oregon counties. The races Clatsop County will recount are for U.S. President, Oregon Attorney General and Ballot Measure 57. Precinct 26 covers the Hamlet area.
Whether the county conducts recounts on two close local election races could depend on Monday’s tally of uncounted votes. In the race for Astoria City Council Ward 4, incumbent councilor Russ Warr leads challenger Bob Goldberg by just two votes, 413 to 411.
In the race for Clatsop County Board of Commissioners District 2 seat, incumbent Commissioner Patricia Roberts is ahead of challenger Jim Scheller by 15 votes, 1,452 to 1,437.
The county is required by law to conduct automatic recounts of individual races if the vote margin is less than one-fifth of 1 percent of the total votes cast. In the case of the Astoria council race, that margin would be less than 2 votes; for the county commission race, the margin is six votes.
If the vote margin exceeds one-fifth of 1 percent, anyone can still request a recount, but that person or party must cover the cost. Recounts must be requested within 35 days of the election.
A date for a recount will be set if Monday’s tally of uncounted votes brings the vote margin in either of the races close enough to trigger an automatic recount, said County Clerk Cathie Garber.