More than 250 provisional ballots will likely determine the outcome of the House of Delegates' 36th District race in Kanawha County.
In last week's election, incumbent Delegate Brad White, R-Kanawha, edged out Delegate Nancy Guthrie, D-Kanawha, for the third and final seat in the 36th District, which covers Charleston's West Side, Kanawha City and eastern Kanawha County. White received 8,128 votes to Guthrie's 8,124 votes - a win by just four votes.
"We've never had an election this close that I can remember," said Kanawha County Commission President Kent Carper.
Starting today, the commission will canvass Tuesday's election results by sifting through absentee and provisional ballots - also known as contested ballots. Canvasses seldom change the results of an election, but this year could be different, Carper said.
Election officials have identified about 250 contested ballots in the 36th District that will be reviewed at today's canvass. Typically, 30 percent to 40 percent of provisional ballots wind up being counted during a canvass, Carper said. If that percentage holds, up to 100 ballots would be added to the total vote tally in the 36th.
"This is such a minuscule, razor-thin margin that this canvass will be outcome determinative," Carper said. "If they still disagree, they can demand a hand count."
Guthrie plans to attend the canvass.
"I don't know if the canvass will change the results one bit, but at least those legitimate provisional ballots cast in good faith by voters who must feel disenfranchised by the process will be counted," she said in an email.
White will be keeping a close watch on the canvass as well.
"The way I look at this race in the 36th District is that it's God's will either way," White said.
Delegate Larry Rowe, D-Kanawha, was the top vote-getter in the 36th District race. Newcomer Andrew Robinson, also a Democrat, finished second.
Today's canvass won't start until after a trip to the post office.
Carper wants election officials to make the mail run to check for late-arriving absentee ballots. Election officials will likely count absentee ballots that were postmarked before the election. Those mailed after Tuesday will be tossed.
"You can't wait to see who won or lost and mail your ballot in," Carper said.
There was no mail Friday because of Veterans' Day, a federal holiday. That will push back the start of today's canvass, which is expected to last about seven hours.
"This is the first time I can recall a holiday falling between an election and a canvass," Carper said. "I'm convinced there will be some absentee ballots still straggling in Monday," Carper said. "I don't intend to start the canvas until we get our hands on the ballots at the post office."
Contested ballots include those cast by registered voters who voted in the wrong precinct, voters not registered and poll workers who voted outside their precincts. A handful of fugitive ballots - uncounted ballots discovered in bags and boxes after the election - also are expected to surface, Carper said.
After declaring winners in House, state Senate and county races, election officials will wait 48 hours before certifying the results. The canvass also will review the vote for Sunday hunting, which Kanawha County voters approved overwhelmingly Tuesday.
"Sunday hunting will take effect as soon as we certify the election," Carper said.
Election officials who decide whether contested and absentee ballots will be counted won't see how voters cast their ballots.
Reach Eric Eyre at ericeyre@wvgazettemail.com,
304-348-4869 or follow @ericeyre on Twitter.