Ward 9 still waits
Posted Dec 1, 2010 04:35:44 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Kitchener Ward 9 contender, Debbie Chapman may have to wait a bit longer to find out whether or not she will get a manual recount.
Chapman lost a devastatingly close race to Frank Etherington. On election night October 25th, Etherington brought in 1,689 votes while Chapman had 1,688.
Following the close vote, Chapman applied for a recount through the city. The city can only authorize a recount in the same way the original vote was conducted.
So, because on election day all the ballots were put through a machine, the recount had to be done the same way.
At the November 3rd recount, the results were identical. Chapman tells 570 news, during the recount they had scrutineers at all of the tabulators keeping notes on any irregularities they saw. It was through that process that she believes there are questionable ballots.
Chapman says the whole thing rests on voter intent, something a machine can’t determine. For instance, a questionable ballot could have an “X” through a name, and a line through another name.
Chapman had 15 days from the November 3rd recount to make an application in court for a manual recount.
On November 15th, Chapman handed in the application. Nothing has happened since that date. A tentative hearing date has been set for December 16th, at 10 am at the Superior Court of Justice.
If nothing happens between now and then, the application will be examined by the court and a decision made.
Chapman was hoping the manual recount would happen before Monday, when Kitchener City Councillors will be sworn in.
As far as Frank Etherington goes, Chapman says it’s status quo; he’ll be sworn in as Councillor for Ward 9 on Monday.
