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Another Recount Ordered In Palm Beach Judicial Race

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The Associated Press

Published: September 18, 2008

WEST PALM BEACH - A judge on Tuesday ordered a second recount in a disputed judicial race in Palm Beach County, where 12 ballots remain unaccounted for after an initial 3,500 ballots went missing after election night.

Leon County Circuit Judge Charles Francis also decided that if other problems surface, the race will be put on the Nov. 4 ballot. The votes would not be counted if the race was decided by the recount.

Having a special election would have cost taxpayers $1.6 million.

The machine recount could begin as early as this morning. The ballots that are considered over-ballots and under-ballots, the ballots spit out by the voting machines, will be counted manually.

If it all adds up, a winner will be declared. If not, the race will be a do-over and go on the ballot Nov. 4.

Candidate William Abramson was ahead 17 votes on Aug. 26, which triggered a recount. During that recount, 3,500 ballots appeared to go missing, and the incumbent candidate, Circuit Judge Richard Wennet, was ahead by 60 votes. Gradually all but 12 of the missing ballots were accounted for.

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