Recount underway in Washington County

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Washington County election judges this morning began the tedious process of recounting governor’s race votes on ballots from each of the county's 90 precincts.

The hand count in Washington County is expected to be complete by Wednesday, the county's top election official said. Counting is taking place at the Government Center in Stillwater.

Kevin Corbid, director of property records and taxpayer services, said a post-Election Day audit of four Washington County precincts resulted in only two changes to the county's vote totals -- one vote fewer for U.S. Rep. Michelle Bachmann and one fewer vote for governor candidate Tom Horner of the Independence Party.

"The other three (precincts) were completely correct," Corbid said.

Usually, results don't change, Corbid told the 45 volunteers before the hand recount started, "but it does happen."

Volunteers from across the county are recounting the governor vote on each ballot cast in the Nov. 2 election. Heading into the recount, Democrat Mark Dayton held an 8,770-vote lead statewide over Republican Tom Emmer.

All 87 counties started the governor’s race recount today.

With new rules governing frivolous ballot challenges, Corbid told reporters he is "hopeful that there will be fewer challenges than in '08." In 2008, supporters of Democrat Al Franken and Republican Norm Coleman challenged many votes as ballots were being recounted. The State Canvassing Board later reviewed the challenged ballots.

New, tougher ballot-challenge rules were tested early today in Washington County, when an Emmer recount observer challenged that a blank ballot be counted for the Republican.

The challenge was deemed frivolous by Carol Peterson, the county's elections administrator.

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