State sets guidelines to conduct recount

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Washington law requires a recount in a statewide election if the final margin is within 2,000 votes.

In a machine recount, which is automatic for the 2004 governor's race, the counties simply retabulate all the ballots that were counted in the original count.

The process checks for tabulation errors. No new ballots are included.

Most counties can recount all ballots in one day; some may take two days. King County expects it would take four days. King is expected to begin its recount Saturday, and all other counties would begin Monday.

The recount should be completed by Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving. The election is to be certified by the state Dec. 2.

State law authorizes only one mandatory recount, but a candidate or political party could request another recount after the election is certified.

The party or candidate must make a deposit with the state in the amount of 15 cents per vote for a machine recount and 25 cents per vote for a manual recount.

If the final number of voters is 2.8 million, the deposit would be $420,000 for a machine recount, or $700,000 for a manual recount.

Copyright © 2004 The Seattle Times Company

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