Primary Recount 2012

Mandatory hand recount decided by coin toss

On Aug. 27, the Kitsap County Auditor – Elections Division conducted a mandatory hand-recount for the Office of Republican Precinct Committee Officer for Precinct 110.

The contest between Paige E. Mitchell and Timothy Runyon initially ended in a tie with each candidate receiving 52 votes when results of the Aug. 7 Primary were certified on Aug. 21. After a review of each ballot and hand-recount, the results of the vote totals for each candidate remained a tie.

The County Canvassing Board comprised of the County Auditor, Chair of the Board of County Commissioners and the Prosecuting Attorney (or their designees) resolved the tie in accordance with state law.

The Canvassing Board proceeded to resolve the tie by a coin toss with Mitchell assigned to heads and Runyon assigned to tails. Commissioner Josh Brown tossed the coin and the Canvassing Board members determined that Mitchell won the coin toss and was certified as the winner of the election.

Kitsap County has had numerous elections decided with only a handful of votes dating back to the mid-1990s. Prior to this contest, there were six races decided by one vote, and two races were dead heats decided by a simple coin toss.

Earlier notices

Notice of Mandatory Recount- On Aug 27, 2012 there will be a recount for the Office of Precinct Committee Officer for precinct 110. Public meetings for the recount will be held in the County Auditor's Office, Room 320 at 619 Division St., Port Orchard, WA 98366 for the following activities (RCW 42.30):

Recount preparation: Beginning Thursday, August 23, 2012, at 8:00 a.m., Elections Staff may unseal ballot containers and retrieve all ballots cast in precinct 110.

Official recount: The recount will begin at 2:30 p.m., Monday, August 27, 2012, in the Elections Division of the Kitsap County Auditor's Office Room 320 at 619 Division Street in Port Orchard, Washington.

The Kitsap County Canvassing Board will convene: Monday, August 27, 2012, at 4:00 p.m. to certify the winner.  If the total votes cast for both candidates remains a tie, the Canvassing Board will proceed at this meeting to resolve the tie according to RCW 29A.60.221and certify the winner.