Hillsborough elections officials will recount ballots in three statewide races and one local race begining this morning

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY – The Hillsborough County Canvassing Board has been notified by the Florida secretary of state that, based on the first unofficial set of returns, the U.S. Senate, governor, commissioner of agriculture and state Senate District 18 races have met the statutory threshold to trigger a machine recount.

As required under Florida law, machine recounts in all four races have been ordered by the secretary of state.

Three of the races are statewide: Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson vs. Republican Gov. Rick Scott for the U.S. Senate; Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum, a Democrat vs. former U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis, a Republican, for governor; and Democrat Nikki Fried vs. Reublican state House Rep. Matt Caldwell for agriculture commissioner. The fourth race between state Sen. Dana Young, a Republican, vs. state Rep. Janet Cruz, a Democrat, is local.

The machine recount will be held at the Robert L. Gilder Elections Service Center, 2514 N Falkenburg Road, Tampa), beginning at 9 a.m. this morning (Nov. 11).

Ballot scanning is tentatively scheduled to take place from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day until the recount is completed. Longer days will be scheduled, if needed. This is a public process. Observation of high-speed scanners will be through windows in an adjacent viewing room. If additional scanning equipment is used, a designated observation area will be established.

Recounts are automatically triggered as per FS102.141, which states that “if the unofficial returns reflect that a candidate for any office was defeated or eliminated by one-half of a percent or less of the votes cast for such office, a recount shall be ordered of the votes cast with respect to such office or measure. The secretary of state is responsible for ordering recounts in federal, state, and multicounty races.”

Any changes to the Canvassing Board or recount schedule will be posted on the doors of the four Supervisor of Elections Offices and its website, VoteHillsborough.org.

Hillsborough Elections | Politics | Elections | Recount | Tampabay News

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