GRAFTON, N.D. -- A possible recount for a Walsh County Commission seat is not expected to happen, county officials said.
Election officials across the state canvassed general election results, making them official. Incumbent Karen Anderson and challenger Lauren Wild, both of Grafton, won the two seats on the ballot with 2,680 votes and 2,442 votes, respectively.
Incumbent Jack Karas of Lankin lost his seat, winning 2,421 votes.
Karas could demand a recount of the votes since Wild won by less than 2 percent, but he does not intend to, he said, adding he would if he knew the recount would change the result in his favor.
If he did request a recount, he would have to do so by Thursday and would have to pay for the recount, according to North Dakota Century Code. A recount would take place eight days after the canvassing board met, which would be Tuesday.
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The Walsh County Commission race was one of three that qualified for a demand recount. Sen. George B. Sinner, a Democrat, was unseated in District 46 after Republican challenger Jim Roers defeated him with 3,934 votes. Sinner, who represented Fargo in the Senate, told Forum News Service he would not ask for a recount after garnering 3,897 votes, falling in the range for a demand recount.
The Ransom County Commission race, which had three spots on the ballot, also qualified for a recount after the bottom four vote-getters in a five-way race fell within a 1.81 percent margin of each other.
