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In Elizabeth City, a 14-vote gap has one candidate calling for a recount

By LAUREN KING , The Virginian-Pilot 
Nov. 9 2005

ELIZABETH CITY ? Even with today?s count of provisional ballots, the outcome of Tuesday?s close mayoral runoff is still not likely to be known because one of the candidates plans to ask for a recount and may lodge a protest.

On Tuesday night, the Rev. Charles L. Foster walked out of the Pasquotank County Board of Elections office 14 votes ahead of Councilman Bill Lehmann in the race to replace retiring Mayor John H. Bell Jr.

The 14-vote difference meant the race was too close to call on Tuesday, and Board of Elections Chairwoman Michele E. Aydlett said the outcome would depend on provisional ballots, which will be counted today at 4 p.m.

But on Wednesday, Lehmann and his campaign supporters visited the board of elections office again, this time to inquire about two issues.
 
?First, we plan to request a recount because the difference is less than a percentage point,? Lehmann said.

?Additionally we are looking into the fact that ... 20 minutes after the polls opened at the Kermit E. White Center there were people who had extreme difficulty voting for me.?

Lehmann said that he received several complaints from supporters who said they had to try several times to his name on the touch screen, but the box for a write-in candidate was highlighted instead.

In those cases, he said, the voters were successful in voting for him, but he was concerned because if they were having trouble, additional problems might not have been reported.

He said he is considering filing a protest that could challenge the final results. He said he called the Pasquotank County Board of Elections immediately on Tuesday to report the problem.

The machines were eventually changed, said Director Linda Page, but several more problems were reported throughout the day. She said, however, that most complained of inconvenience rather than inability to vote for their candidate.

Lehmann said another concern with Tuesday?s election was the number of blank ballots cast.

Typically there are several ?under votes,? or ballots cast in which the voter didn?t choose a candidate or opt to write in someone. Those figures are frequently overlooked because some people may be interested in voting only in one race. For instance, the voter may cast a ballot for mayor but not a city council seat.

But there was only one race Tuesday in Elizabeth City, and 42 blank ballots were cast ? 24 during early One-Stop (No Excuse) voting and 18 during Tuesday?s election.

Lehmann said he believes it could be a result of the machines not working properly on Election Day.

According to the preliminary election results, however, the under votes were scattered among all of the precincts.

Of Tuesday?s 18 under votes, only five were cast at the Kermit E. White Center, where Lehmann said he heard the most complaints.

Page said that the problem could also have been human error ? a voter casting the ballot before properly indicating a candidate.

Page said formal protests are due before the official canvass on Tuesday .

A written request for a recount must be filed by 5 p.m. the day after the official canvass.

A provisional ballot is placed in a sealed envelope if a voter?s name does not appear on the roll at the precinct. It is counted if it is later determined that the voter is legally registered.



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