Goodrich-A village councilmember has requested a recount following the Nov. 4 election in Precinct 4. The request is due to a possible tabulator malfunction or a possible ballot printing error, according to a petition filed by Councilmember Patricia Wartella to the Office of the County Clerk on Nov. 7.
The Board of Canvassers will meet at 1 p.m., Dec. 2 in the Genesee County Circuit Courthouse to consider the petition and any objections.
‘There were difficulties and problems during the voting,? said Wartella, who received the most votes of seven candidates in the election, with 410.
‘If the recount changes my vote count, then so-be-it. Some the residents said they had difficulties voting and that’s when I contacted the clerk and filed the petition.?
Genesee County Director of Elections Doreen Fulcher said once the Board of Canvassers approves the recount, the township clerk would bring the ballots to the county courthouse.
‘We have the poll books, tabulator tapes and the election data card,? she said. ‘The village would be charged for the hours of Board of Canvassers and election inspectors. That total amount will not be known until it’s done.?
Atlas Township Clerk Tere Onica said she welcomes the recount if the county approves the request.
‘I expect the equipment to hold up under scrutiny,? she said. ‘The county uses all the same election machines in all the precincts. I welcome the recount’the machines should stand up. If there are problems, I want to know about them. Following the election, no voters from precinct 4 informed us of a problem.?
Onica said if the recount is approved it will be a first for the village and township.
‘While the county can charge the village for the recount, it’s unlikely they would. At least in the past the Board of Canvassers did not charge for the recount. But, given the economic issues of the area, they may.?
Any objections needed to be received by 4 p.m., Nov. 20.