Montana general election formally closed
HELENA – The State Board of Canvassers today completed the state canvass of the 2012 General Election results. The Board must canvass the statewide results within 27 days following a federal election by comparing the state canvass with each of the 56 county canvasses.
The state canvass is a certification of results for the General Election, Montana Secretary of State Linda McCulloch explained. “The Board doesn’t count ballots, it reviews each county canvass and verifies that the official results from each county match the official statewide results.
Everything checked out, and all election results stayed the same.”
The State Board of Canvassers includes the State Auditor, State Superintendent of Public Instruction and Attorney General. (Each sent a representative to attend.) The Secretary of State serves as the Secretary to the Board.
“The election is officially over with one statewide race qualifying for a potential recount,” McCulloch said.
The final vote tally for the Superintendent of Public Instruction race verified a .476 percent vote difference, which qualifies the race for a recount in accordance with Montana laws. County Election Administrators estimate a recount could take as long as one week and cost the defeated candidate nearly $114,800. In order for a recount to take place, the defeated candidate must file a petition requesting the recount within five days of the official state canvass.
Final vote tally
Denise Juneau (D) 235,397
Sandy Welch (R) 233,166
Vote difference 2,231
Percent difference 0.476
