Benton County Election Results Still in Question Monday
Recount of Paper Ballots Underway
This article was published on Monday, November 13, 2006 3:59 PM CST in News
By The Morning News

 BENTONVILLE The Benton County Election Commission delayed the beginning of early voting Monday and began a machine recount of paper ballots about 9 a.m.

Results in eight races flip-flopped after a retabulation of ballots released Thursday, but now commissioners, candidates and election coordinator Jim McCarthy don't seem to be sure those totals were correct, either.

The first results from Tuesday's general election showed unusually low voter turnouts in some races, while the second results showed unusually high turnouts, including an overall turnout of 83 percent.

McCarthy traveled to the Little Rock offices of Election Systems and Software Inc. on Friday to determine if electronic totals were correct.

District 2 justice of the peace candidate Cheryl Murphy said Monday morning that she plans to ask for a hand recount of ballots from her race. Different results have shown her winning and losing a close race against Frank Winscott for the open seat.

Democratic Election Commissioner John M. Brown Jr. estimated the recount was about halfway through at 11:30 a.m. Monday. Republican Commissioner Russ Odell was also on hand to observe the recount.
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In cases in which the machine rejects a ballot, the commissioners discuss the voter's intent and may alter a ballot by making a darker mark or whiting out an errant mark.

Candidates began filtering in to watch the process Monday morning. Present were Murphy and Winscott, Lowell city clerk candidate Eric Haussermann and Bethel Heights mayor candidate Lewis J. Patton.

The Benton County Web site still posts the original election results released early Wednesday morning. The results released Thursday afternoon were never posted on the site.
Reader Comments (1)

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Ryan wrote on November 13, 2006 3:20 PM:"I was a poll worker during this election. It is sad that "confusion" in the election comission office has created such problems. The vote counting procedure is pleasantly simple. Problems durinig this cycle are not the result of the electronic voting machines. The problem is far more basic."