COMMENTARY / EVAN SMITH: Expect extended vote counting

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2010

By Evan Smith

ShorelineAreaNews Politics Writer

The vote totals that we’ll see reported Tuesday night represent only a fraction of the final numbers.

Election returns this week won’t settle the close races for the U.S. Senate or House seats in Washington’s 2nd, 3rd and 8th Congressional districts.

The count that King County gives us at 8:15 p.m. Tuesday included only ballots that had arrived in Friday’s mail or were in ballot drop boxes Friday afternoon.

Snohomish County is doing a 10 p.m. count that will include ballots that arrived Monday.

So, election results that we report Tuesday night won’t include anything that arrived at the King County elections office Monday. The only results from ballots that arrived Monday will be from the small part of the 32nd Legislative District that is in Snohomish County.

King County’s next report, at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday will include ballots that arrived Monday. Snohomish County’s 5 p.m. Wednesday report will include ballots that arrived Tuesday. King County ballots arriving Tuesday won’t be reported until 4:30 p.m. Thursday.

I’ll continue to post results each afternoon as both counties continue to announce results.

Some close races will keep us watching returns through County certification Nov. 23.

Even then, some contests won’t be over.

Any time two candidates are separated by less than 0.5 percent of their combined total, there’s an automatic recount.

If the difference is less than 0.25 percent of the combined vote, it’s a hand recount.

Republican U.S. Senate challenger Dino Rossi could find himself in a situation like 2004, when he lost to Gov. Chris Gregoire only after two recounts and a court case.