After five weeks of handcounting ballots from the 2010 general election, the Guam Election Commission presented its findings to commissioners that had some speculating a change in the results, not in the gubernatorial race, but for the Legislature. It took a little over one month to handcount five precincts from the 2010 general election and during its GEC meeting Wednesday night, executive director Maria Pangelinan reported the results. “The difference of the gubernatorial race was minimal,” she said. Of the hand count summary of the five precincts, results showed Gutierrez-Aguon receiving five less votes from the certified results, whereas Calvo-Tenorio received two additional votes. “Between a handcount and machine tabulation there are bound to be differences,” Pangelinan said.
And while the legislative race also saw minimal changes with some candidates receiving about a handful or more extra votes, commissioners noted it could have affected the number 15 spot for senator. “It was pointed that Ray Haddock, who was number 16, had gained nine votes so discussion ensued among commissioners and they were saying that if he was number 16 and if the trend continues and he gains nine votes across all the precincts, he could have won,” she said.
Independent member Patrick Civille implied the trend saying if it continued Haddock could have collected 90 more votes and changing the race. The 2010 certified results showed haddock receiving 15,960 votes or 78 less votes than Senator Sam Mabini, who received 16,038 votes and finished 15th. So in essence, if all 58 precincts were to be counted, Civille suggested Haddock could have landed in the 15th spot. However it should also be noted that Senator Mabini received seven additional votes from the handcount.
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