Judicial recount to be held next week for Glace Bay-Dominion
PC candidate John White defeated NDP candidate John Morgan by 33 votes
There will be a judicial recount of ballots from the recent provincial election in the Cape Breton district of Glace Bay-Dominion.
After a close race among Johns, John Morgan the New Democratic Party candidate, sought the recount after placing second by 33 votes.
Morgan, a former mayor of the Cape Breton Regional Municipality, was defeated in last Tuesday's election by school teacher John White of the Progressive Conservatives.
White received 2,759 votes to 2,726 for Morgan.
The Liberals' John John McCarthy came last, but was only about 250 votes away from the other two. Only 59 per cent of eligible voters cast ballots in the district.
A Supreme Court of Nova Scotia order has been issued for a recount. It will take place at the Sydney Justice Centre over two days, beginning on Monday.
The riding was previously held by Geoff MacLellan of the Liberals. He stepped down earlier this year.
Two workers recount each ballot box
Lindsay Rodenkirchen, assistant chief electoral officer for Elections Nova Scotia, said two election workers will recount each ballot box.
"What they specifically are doing is recounting all the accepted, rejected and declined votes that have been cast within each poll," Rodenkirchen said.
"During that process they are showing them to the scrutineers that are available at each table."
Rodenkirchen said that if no decision can be reached between scrutineers, party members and their legal counsel, then a contested ballot is decided by a judge.
Riding recounts are automatic when 10 votes or fewer decide the outcome.
"In this particular one it is a close spread," said Rodenkirchen. "There is a 33-vote difference. So on election night we were watching this particular district for the possibility of a recount application and that is certainly what happened."
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