Residents in the East Grand Forks School District should know Tuesday if a failed referendum vote will be overturned.
A recount of votes cast on Election Day will be 8:30 a.m. in the first floor conference room of the Polk County Courthouse in Crookston.
Recounts typically don't change the outcome of an election, according to Kent Kaiser, communications director with the Minnesota Secretary of State's office. But because the measure failed by less than 1 percent of the votes, he said, it stands a chance.
"That one's pretty close," Kaiser said. "It will be worth watching."
The East Grand Forks School Board called for a recount because it failed by 23 votes - 0.06 percent - and 337 ballots in the district, or 9 percent, did not show any vote for the referendum. That could have been a mechanical mistake in the counting, officials said.
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The referendum would increase property taxes by $108 per $100,000 in value and would provide more than $1 million toward a budget that has been in deficit because of declining enrollment and flat state funding.
The recount will include area precinct judges and officials from both the school district and the county auditor's office.
County Auditor Gerald Ambit said recounting the 3,281 votes by hand might take time.
"I think it could take a good part of the day," he said.
The recount will mark the first time in 20 years that Amiot has had to deal with a recount. The last time was in 1986 for the 7th District U.S. Congressional race between Collin Peterson, who now holds the office, and then-winner Arlan Stangeland. That outcome was not overturned.
A petition was submitted to the county auditor's office this week containing signatures from 40 registered voters requesting a recount of the measure.
The East Grand Forks School District will be responsible to pay recount expenses for precinct election judges and other personnel, with the exception of officials from the county auditor's office. Amiot estimated costs to be roughly $200 to $300, or less.
Reach Ricker at 780-1104; (800) 477-6572, ext. 104; or aricker@gfherald.com .
