Rochester to hold election recounts in 3 races, including Walker vs. Grassie tie vote

ROCHESTER — The city will hold election recounts Saturday, Nov. 18 for two City Council races and one School Board race.

The recounts for the Nov. 7 election results will take place on Saturday, Nov. 18, beginning at 9 a.m., at the James W. Foley Memorial Community Center.

The tie vote (409-409) between Chuck Grassie and David Walker for the Ward 4 Seat A City Council seat will be closely watched. If the vote remains a tie, the current council has decided the final result will be decided using a drawing from Bingo balls numbered 1-20. Each candidate will be assigned even or odd numbers and the first ball drawn from 20 would decide the race.

The same two opponents, running in November 2022 for state representative, went to a recount that ended in a tie and was followed by a special election in February 2023, won by Grassie.

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City Manager Katie Ambrose said anyone who has a vote count within 3% of their opponent can ask for a recount.

Two other Rochester races going to a recount Saturday are the Ward 1, Seat A City Council race, won by Patricia Turner over Joshua Guptill (345-326), as well as the Ward 6, Seat B School Board race, won by Kelli Allen over incumbent Donna Ellis (246-242).

This article originally appeared on Fosters Daily Democrat: Rochester NH to hold election recounts: Walker vs. Grassie and more