Next Friday, September 23, Missoula County commissioners will convene as the county canvassing board and count by hand all 8,043 ballots that were voted in the mayoral primary. After this "official canvass" is complete, any candidate may file for a "recount" if the margin of defeat is either one-quarter of one percent (that's .0025) or less than 10 votes, whichever is greater. As of right now, of course, Geoff Badenoch has lost by only 3 votes. According to my calculations, 1/4 of 1% in this election is about 20. I suspect that even if the numbers change, the loser will still be within this margin.
My question is this: Does the loser then get to request a recount? After each vote has already been "canvassed"? What's the difference between a canvass and a recount? I know that next Friday's recount is paid for by government, but what about after that?
If you thought I had the answers, you're wrong. If you think I might find them -- well, I hope you're right.
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