A recount of votes in the state’s closest legislative race tightened the margin by one vote but left Democrat Sandy Jerstad of Sioux Falls as the winner, auditors said today.
Jerstad held a 20-vote margin over incumbent Republican Sen. Bill Earley of Sioux Falls after the official canvass of votes from the Nov. 7 election. Earley sought a recount, which was finished today.
He closed the gap by four votes in Minnehaha County but lost three votes in Lincoln County, auditors said. In Minnehaha County, the recount showed Earley with 3,096 votes and Jerstad with 3,492 votes, Auditor Sue Roust said. That’s one fewer vote than Earley had in the canvass but it’s five fewer for Jerstad.
In Lincoln County, Earley finished the recount with 2,055 votes, three less than the canvass, Auditor Paula Fecht said. Jerstad’s canvass number of 1,678 remained unchanged after the recount.
The combined two-county totals were 5,170 votes for Jerstad and 5,151 for Earley. The numbers must be certified to the secretary of state’s office, which issues certificates of election.
Todd Epp, however, thinks the Argus Leader is wrong.
Recent Comments