Northern Vote Recount Underway

Northern Vote Recount Underway

Wednesday, February 08, 2006 at 14:58

A judicial recount for a federal riding in northern Saskatchewan is now underway in a Prince Albert courthouse.

Supporters of the Conservatives’ Jeremy Harrison convinced a Court of Queen’s Bench justice to hold the recount in a bid to overturn the 73-vote win by the Liberals’ Gary Merasty.

Depending on whom you believe, the recount will wrap up today or tomorrow.

Elections Canada says a recount can be adjourned until tomorrow morning if it is not completed by 6:00 tonight.

The recount involves individually scrutinizing just under 25,000 ballots cast in the Desnethe-Missinippi-Churchill River constituency, including the spoiled or rejected ballots.

However, today’s recount does not deal with the allegations of wrongdoing that have been raised by the Harrison camp.

Three representatives from each side have been granted permission to observe the proceedings. The recount itself is being conducted by 20 elections officials and supervised by a judge.