Sitka Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins (left) and Haines Republican Rep. Bill Thomas (right).
Kreiss-Tomkins, from Sitka, was in a dead heat with Haines Republican incumbent Bill Thomas over the weekend, after two questioned ballots from Port Alexander were counted on Friday, and evened-up the race.
The State Division of Elections counted 86 more ballots today. The totals now stand at 4082 for Thomas, and 4110 for Kreiss-Tomkins – a difference of 28 votes in favor of the Sitka Democrat.
Elections director Gail Fenumiai says that the Division has 26 “special absentee” ballots in hand, which will be counted on Wednesday, along with any other absentee ballots which may arrive from overseas.
If the election does happen to end in a tie, the state will conduct an automatic recount. If the election ends with a margin of victory of less than half a percentage point the loser may request a recount at the state’s expense. Fenumiai says the recount would be completed in one day.
