The Idaho Republican Party is encouraging two of its candidates to ask for recounts in elections that they narrowly lost to their Democratic challengers in the Nov. 4 election. Republican state Rep. Thyra Stevenson of Lewiston lost to Democrat Dan Rudolph by 26 votes. Meanwhile, in the same legislative district, fellow Republican Mike Kingsley lost to House Minority Leader John Rusche by 48 votes. Idaho Republican Party’s Executive Director David Johnston told the Lewiston Tribune in a story that ran Saturday that the narrow margins in both races warrant a recount.
Johnston added that a disk drive failed in Nez Perce County while votes were being counted, resulting in some ballots being hand counted. “We feel both races are too close to call, particularly with the middle-of-the-night hiccup at the county,” Johnston said. “It’s prudent to do a recount and make sure the results reflect what voters wanted.”
Under Idaho law, the races don’t qualify for an automatic recount because the margins are greater than 0.1 percent. Instead, the candidates can ask for one if they pay for it. A full recount in Nez Perce County would cost $3,300, or $1,000 per precinct plus absentee ballots.
Full Article: UPDATE: Idaho Republican Party Pushes for Recount.