Wards 3, 5 votes to be recounted Friday

In order to comply with the Arizona Revised Statute Article 16-661, Section 6, referred to recount of votes, which states “A recount of the vote is required when the canvass of returns in a primary or general election shows that the margin between the two candidates receiving the greatest number of votes for a particular office, or between the number of votes cast for and against initiated or referred measures or proposals to amend the Constitution of Arizona, is less than or equal to the lesser of 10 votes in the case of an office to be filled by the electors of a city or town or a county or subdivision of a city, town or county” the City of Douglas has been granted a motion submitted by City Clerk Brenda Aguilar and City Attorney Juan Pablo Flores to conduct an automatic recount of the vote for the March 13, 2012, Primary Election for Wards 3 and 5.

“The margin between the two candidates receiving the greatest number of votes is less than or equal to ten votes for the Ward 3 Council Seat Race between candidates Ben La Forge (180 votes) and Lynn Kartchner (174 votes) and for the Ward 5 Council Seat Race between candidates Luis Greer (121 votes) and Lourdes “Lou” Estrada (111 votes),” Aguilar said. “The recount will be conducted by the Cochise County Elections Department on Friday, March 30 at 10 a.m.”

Aguilar also said it is unlikely the official result will change for these two wards, since the first counting was made with all transparency by the Elections Department.

The recount on Friday will be open to the public. The Cochise County Elections Department is located at 100 Clawson Avenue, 3rd Floor, Old High School Building in Bisbee, Arizona 85603.