Recount in St. Cloud City Council Race

(KNSI) – A race decided by three votes for St. Cloud City Council will require a recount.

Three candidates filed for office in Ward 2. Only two can advance to the general election. The unofficial results from Tuesday’s primary show Karen A. Larson getting 638 votes, followed by Sandra Brakstad with 432 and Seal Dwyer with 429. Stearns County election officials say Dwyer requested a recount on Wednesday. The vote will be canvassed this week.

Stearns County Auditor-Treasurer Randy Schreifels says the results must be certified official before the recount begins.

“There’ll be a hand recount. And the candidate certainly can have representatives there and we encourage them to have representatives there to watch and be part of the process. And the recount is open to the public too.”

He says officials will count the ballots by hand to ensure the voting machines’ accuracy.

“The machines can’t pick up voter intent. So, if somebody circled the oval rather than fill it in, that will cause some changes in the totals. But the machines are very accurate. But three votes is a really close race.”

Schreifels says the recount will likely take place next week at a location yet to be determined. The cost will be covered by St. Cloud, along with Benton, Stearns and Sherburne County. Ward 2’s seven precincts stretch into all three counties.

Any election decided by .5% or less triggers an automatic recount in Minnesota if requested by the candidate.

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