Just four votes separate the two Democratic candidates vying for the second spot in the race for state senator of the 42nd Legislative District, triggering a mandatory recount that will begin on Tuesday, according to Whatcom County Auditor Stacy Henthorn.
Republican Erika Creydt, a clinical psychologist and Blaine School Board member, already has secured a spot in the November general election for the seat, with 44.56% of the votes, or 22,125, according to election results for the Aug. 4 primary.
Whether Creydt faces Michael Shepard or Eamonn Collins, both Democrats from Bellingham, was still being determined when the county canvassing board met on Monday to review challenged ballots.
At that point, Shepard led by nine votes.
Henshaw had said that the Auditor’s Office had 266 ballots under challenge because the voter signature didn’t match, and 242 ballots being challenged because they were unsigned.
Any ballot being challenged over a signature issue had to be cured by 4:30 p.m. on Monday for the ballot to be counted. Ballot curing is a process that helps voters fix their ballots if they make a mistake.
At the end of that process, Shepard’s lead had narrowed to four votes, or 13,125 votes to Collins’ 13,121.
That narrow margin triggered a mandatory recount, and the canvassing board directed the election staff in the Auditor’s Office to do a hand recount.
The recount will begin at 8 a.m. Tuesday in the Election Center in the Whatcom County Courthouse at 311 Grand Ave., Suite B3, in Bellingham.
While the recount is open to the public, space is available for just 10 observers at a time and on a rotating basis if necessary, according to state law.
The results will be certified by the canvassing board at the end of the recount. Find the date and time of the certification at whatcomcounty.us/Elections.
For more information, contact the Election Division of the Auditor’s Office at 360-778-5102 or elections@co.whatcom.wa.us.
