County to start its recount Monday

For political junkies, the gubernatorial race has been a dream come true.

“I feel like Florida” in the 2000 presidential race, said Frauna Hoglund, who leads the Snohomish County Republicans. “There are no hanging chads, but there are a lot of interesting things going on.”

County Democratic Chairman Kent Hanson said he’s been fascinated by the seesaw battle between Christine Gregoire and Dino Rossi.

“It sort of makes the election real,” he said. “Every vote really does count.”

Meanwhile, Snohomish County Auditor Bob Terwilliger has been gearing up for the recount.

Rossi pulled out a 261-vote victory late Wednesday after about 1,900 votes from Benton and Grays Harbor counties were added to the state total.

By law, hand counts are required if the final difference is less than 150 votes, and less than one-quarter of 1 percent. As votes trickled in from around the state Friday, the candidates remained in a virtual tie as far as the percentage difference between them.

“We were just rooting for 150 (votes) or more,” Terwilliger said.

The difference means that he and election officials around the state will be able to use machines for the recount. He plans to start the recount Monday morning and complete it on Tuesday. The election for the governor would be certified locally on Wednesday.

If a hand count had been required, the 96,231 votes cast in Snohomish County on electronic voting machines Nov. 2 would have had to be reduced to paper. There were 200,737 mail-in paper ballots counted in the election.

People hired for that purpose would have had to count all 296,968 ballots, Terwilliger said. Thirty teams of two had been planned for that eventuality, but it won’t be required now.

Under a hand-count scenario, Terwilliger anticipated certification as late as Nov. 30, and the teams working through part of the Thanksgiving weekend.

“We’ve never seen anything like this before,” he said, adding that extremely close or even tied elections happen occasionally in small jurisdictions. But state voters cast nearly 2.9 million ballots, “and this vote is essentially a tie.”

Ten new Snohomish County ballots, postmarked on or before Nov. 2, trickled in from overseas or arrived here from other counties on Wednesday, Terwilliger said. They were added to the mix.

By all indications, six of them went for Rossi and four for Gregoire. Two didn’t vote in the governor’s race.

Reporter Jim Haley: 425-339-3447 or haley@heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Employees and patrons of the Everett Mall signed a timeline mural that traces the history of the 51-year-old indoor mall that was once considered the premier place to go shopping in the city. Thursday, March 20, 2025 (Aaron Kennedy / The Herald)
Mall mural offers nostalgic trip into the past

Past and present Everett Mall employees joined customers Thursday to view an artistic timeline of the once popular shopping mecca.

Edmonds Mayor Mike Rosen gives his State of the City address on Thursday, March 20 in Edmonds, Washington. (Will Geschke / The Herald)
Edmonds mayor talks budget at 2025 State of the City

Mayor Mike Rosen discussed the city’s deficit and highlights from his first year in office.

Daron Johnson, who runs Snohomish County Scanner, stands next to his scanner setup on Tuesday, April 1 in Everett, Washington. (Will Geschke / The Herald)
Snohomish County law enforcement to encrypt police airwaves

The plan for civilian police scanners to go dark pushed a host to shut down his popular breaking news feed.

Richie Gabriel, 1, jumps off the bottom of the slide as Matthew Gabriel looks down at him from the play structure at Hummingbird Hill Park on Monday, March 31, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Edmonds residents show up for Hummingbird Hill Park, Frances Anderson Center

After a two-and-a-half hour public comment session, the council tabled its votes for the two comprehensive plan amendments.

Students Haddie Shorb, 9, left, and brother Elden Shorb, 11, right, lead the ground breaking at Jackson Elementary School on Tuesday, April 1, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett district breaks ground on Jackson Elementary replacement

The $54 million project will completely replace the aging elementary school. Students are set to move in by the 2026-27 school year.

Logo for news use featuring Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Another positive measles case identified in Snohomish County

The case was identified in an infant who likely contracted measles while traveling, the county health department said.

A Tesla drives along 41st Street on Wednesday, March 26, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Washington faces uncertain future of Clean Air Act regulations

The Trump administration’s attempt to roll back numerous vehicle pollution standards has left states wondering what’s next.

A person walks through the lot at Kia of Everett shopping for a car on Tuesday, April 1, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
‘The tariffs made me do it’: Customers move fast on cars

At one Everett dealership, customers move fast on cars ahead of Wednesday’s expected announcement on tariffs.

Public’s help needed to find missing Arlington man

The 21-year-old left the house Sunday night without his shoes, cell phone or a jacket, and was reported missing the following morning.

Will Geschke / The Herald
The Marysville Tulalip Campus on the Tulalip Reservation, where Legacy High School is located.
Marysville board votes to keep Legacy High at current location

The move rolls back a decision the school board made in January to move the alternative high school at the start of next school year.

The former Marysville City Hall building along State Avenue on Tuesday, April 30, 2024 in Marysville, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
City of Marysville, school board amend property exchange

The city will relocate its public works facility to the district’s current headquarters, which will move to the former City Hall.

Snohomish County Elections employees Alice Salcido, left and Joseph Rzeckowski, right, pull full bins of ballots from the Snohomish County Campus ballot drop box on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
County to mail ballots for Edmonds, Brier elections

Registered voters should receive their ballots by April 9 for the April 22 special election.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.