Is the Middletown school bond results close enough for a recount? What the RIBOE says.
With the margin of Middletown's bond question to approve a $190 million bond at 120 votes could the results be ultimately decided by a recount?
As of 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, the question stood at 2,046 votes approving the measure and 1,926 against. As percentages that works out to 51.5% votes to approve and 48.5% to reject.
As of that time, votes cast at polling places, mail ballots and early votes were included in the totals.
Here's a look at how the R.I. Board of Elections, which is responsible for conducting recounts in all elections held in Rhode Island, handles recounts for ballot questions.
Recount procedures
• A person, group or organization of "recognized standing" (as defined by the Board of Elections) seeking arecount of the votes cast for a ballot question must make a written application to the Board of Elections requestingsaid recount.
• The deadline to submit a request for a recount is 4 p.m. on the seventh day following an election.
Eligibility requirements for ballot questions
Manual Re-Feeding of the Computer Ballots Cast
In the case of a ballot question, a person, group or organization of "recognized standing," as determined by the Board of Elections, may request a manual re-feeding of the computer ballots cast at each precinct if the difference between "Approve" and "Reject" is less than one-half of one percent (1/2%) or 500 votes, whichever is less.
Computer Re-Reading of the election night memory packs
If a ballot question does not qualify for a manual re-feeding of the ballots cast, a person, group or organization of 'recognized standing" may request a re-reading of the memory packs and have the results compared to those obtained on election night if the difference between "Approve" and "Reject" is as follows:
If less than 100,000 total votes* were case the difference is 2% or less;
If 100,000 or more total votes* were cast the difference is 1% or less.
*Total votes shall mean the total number of votes cast as "approve" and "reject" for said question.
1) If there is no change in the totals after the re-read, the election night totals shall stand as reported.
At the polls: As Middletown voters head to the polls, both sides of bond question make final push
2) If the re-read is conducted and a discrepancy between the results obtained on election night and the results produced as a result of the re-read AND, subsequent to said re-read, the ballot question shall meet the eligibility requirements to manually re-feed the computer ballots cast at each precinct in the race into the optical scan voting equipment they may request said re-feed of the ballots.
A person, group or organization of 'recognized standing" who wishes to have a recount conducted as defined in (2) above must notify the Board of Elections, in writing, within 24 hours of the conclusion of the recount conducted pursuant to Section 2.
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Middletown school bond results: RI Board of Elections recount procedure
