Recount being considered for township advisory boards
By Susan Scholl

Carroll County Republican Party Chairman Tom Gray is questioning whether or not the hand count for the township advisory board races in last week's General Election is accurate.

According to Carroll County Clerk Laura Sterrett, a handcount was ordered by the Carroll County Election Board after becoming aware that there could be a problem with how the Optech Eagle tabulated votes where there was a split ticket in a particular race.

State law says that once a voter crosses over after marking a straight ticket ballot, the entire race is open for voting. The straight ticket in that particular case does not apply; the race must be marked.

"It's the election board's decision to meet at 9 a.m. Friday in the commissioner's room to make a decision whether the argument for the recount is valid, and if so, to do a recount at that time," said Gil Smith, Democratic Party representative on the Election Board.

"We know the machines counted the votes inaccurately in part of the public test," said Smith. "That was due to new legislation that was enacted to clean-up problems that were brought to light two years ago."

"Four or five voting scenarios are involved," Smith said. "The question is about the hand count involving those scenarios."

"The legislation is complicated and we want the count to be accurate," added Sterrett.

The only ballots in question are the paper ballots. "The electronic machines are correct in the way they tabulate, because how you voted is exactly the way it counts," said Smith.

"These were close enough races that a second set of eyes will lend the time and patience to read each ballot and confirm the count," said Gray.

Sam Deiwert is the Republican Party's representative on the election board. Sterrett is board secretary.