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Secretary of State William Galvin ordered a district-wide hand recount in the Third Congressional District, on Sept. 10, after Democratic candidate Daniel A. Koh filed a sufficient number of signatures to request the recount. The results certified by Galvin’s office today indicate that Koh received 18,405 votes to Trahan’s 18,527 in the Sept. 4 state primary election. The difference between the two candidates is less than one half of one percent, allowing Galvin to order a recount throughout the entire district.
Under state law, the boards of registrars in each city and town in the district must now set a date to recount all Democratic ballots cast in their communities in the Sept. 4 state primary. The recount in each municipality must be completed by Sept. 17 and written notice of the date, time, and location must be provided to candidates at least three days before the date of the recount.
Tellers hired by the local election officials will count each ballot by hand, tallying only the votes for the Congressional race. The process in each city and town is open to public observation and each candidate on the ballot is entitled to have representatives present during the recount.
Galvin will exercise direct control over the recount proceedings in the cities of Lawrence and Lowell, under orders issued by his office earlier today.
Galvin ordered all ballots and election paperwork impounded on Sept. 5, in anticipation of a possible recount. The ballots will remain under seal and locked in each city and town’s vault until the recount begins.
The boards of registrars in each city and town will act as the judges of the recount. Any challenges to the determinations made by the tellers will be heard by the registrars, who will make the final determination. The results of the recount will determine the Democratic nominee for the Third Congressional District on the Nov. 6 state election ballot.
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