State Sen. Van Wanggaard, R-Racine, gained a few more votes Tuesday during the sixth day of Racine County’s recall election recount. But the senator still remains well behind his challenger, former state Sen. John Lehman, D-Racine. During the June 5 recall election, Republican Gov. Scott Walker overwhelmingly beat Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, a Democrat. But in Racine County’s 21st Senate District, Lehman led incumbent Wanggaard by 834 votes, according to canvass results. Following the election, Wanggaard requested a recount. Results through Tuesday show Wanggaard has gained 18 votes while Lehman has gained four but lost two, bringing the difference to 818, according to numbers from the Government Accountability Board and Racine County Clerk Wendy Christensen. The recount continues today at the Racine County Courthouse, 730 Wisconsin Ave., in the first floor conference room. Tabulators Tuesday finished recounting Mount Pleasant’s results and turned attention to City of Racine wards, Christensen said. Racine poll workers have faced scrutiny for not having some people who registered to vote June 5 also sign poll books as required by law.
About 4,400 people registered to vote in Racine that day, said Donna Deuster, assistant city clerk. Republicans have said more than 100 did not sign poll books while Democrats have said the number could be as low as five. An exact figure could be determined by comparing voter registration forms to the poll books but that won’t happen because, due to the recount, right now the city clerk has the forms and the county clerk has the poll books, Deuster said. She added the clerk’s office is not likely to check how many people did not sign the poll books even when they’re returned because the votes still count and the people are still considered registered voters.
Full Article: Race tightens by handful of votes in recount.