IS JUST A HANDFUL OF VOTES, EVAN, IN THAT RACE FOR HOUSE DISTRICT 20, WHICH INCLUDES PARTS OF CLEVELAND COUNTY AND MCLEAN COUNTY, MIKE WHALEY IS TRAILING HIS OPPONENT, JONATHAN WILKE, BY ONLY FIVE VOTES. EXPERTS TELLING ME RECOUNTS ARE EXTREMELY RARE IN OKLAHOMA. IT’S PARTICULARLY UNUSUAL FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS. BUT EVEN ACROSS THE UNITED STATES, WE’RE TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING LIKE 36 RECOUNTS IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS. DESPITE THAT, TWO LOCAL RACES ARE SET TO GO THROUGH A HAND RECOUNT BEFORE COUNTY JUDGES ON THURSDAY. THAT’S HOUSE DISTRICT 20, WHERE JONATHAN WILKE IS LEADING, MIKE WHALEY BY FIVE VOTES AND SENATE DISTRICT 15, WHERE LISA STANDRIDGE IS AHEAD OF ROBERT KEYS BY 55 VOTES. OU POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSOR DOCTOR MELODY HUCKABY SAYS WHILE COMPUTERS HAVE REDUCED THE NEED FOR RECOUNTS, IT’S STILL POSSIBLE TO CATCH SOMETHING WHEN YOU PHYSICALLY LOOK AT EACH BALLOT. MAYBE SOMEBODY JUST MADE AN ERRANT MARK THAT DIDN’T GO IN THE RIGHT SPOT, AND SO IT DIDN’T GET COUNTED. BUT IF WE WERE LOOKING AT IT MANUALLY, WE MIGHT SEE, OH, WELL, THEY MEANT TO MARK IT RIGHT HERE. ELECTION OFFICIALS TELL KOCO FIVE THEY EXPECT THE RECOUNTS TO LAST SEVERAL HOURS, BECAUSE WE’RE TALKING ABOUT THOUSANDS OF BALLOTS. REPRESENTATIVES FROM EACH CAMPAIGN WILL BE ON HAND TO WATCH THE RECOUNT, AND EXPERTS SAY WE SHOULDN’T NECESSARILY EXPECT TO SEE A CHANGE IN RESULTS. IT’S REALLY UNUSUAL, UNUSUAL FOR IT TO REVERSE. USUALLY IT WIDENS THE GAP RATHER THAN NARROWS THE GAP. WE JUST HEARD LIKE. AND SO ONCE RECOUNTS ARE FINISHED, LOCAL ELECTION BOARDS WILL CERTIFY THE RESULTS AND HOUSE DISTRICT 20 THE WINNER, WILL FACE DEMOCRAT MITCHELL JACOB IN NOVEMBER. THE WINNER IN SENATE DISTRICT 15 WILL FACE DEMOCRAT ELIZABETH
Two races for Oklahoma Legislature headed for a recount
On Thursday, election officials in Cleveland and McClain counties will recount ballot in the Republican primary for House District 20 and Senate District 15.
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Updated: 5:39 PM CDT Sep 4, 2024
On Thursday, election officials in Cleveland and McClain counties will recount the ballot in the Republican primary for House District 20 and Senate District 15.Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.For the race in House District 20, which includes parts of Cleveland and McClain counties, Mike Whaley is trailing his opponent, Jonathan Wil by only 5 votes. Experts tell KOCO 5 that is extremely rare.“In Oklahoma, it’s particularly unusual, for a number of reasons, but even across the United States, we’re talking about something like 36 recounts in the last four years,” said Melody Huckaby Rowlett, with the University of Oklahoma.Despite that, two local races are set to go through a hand recount before county judges on Thursday.In Senate District 15, Lisa Strandridge is ahead of Robert Keyes by 55 votes.>> Download the KOCO 5 AppRowlett said while computers have reduced the need for recounts, it’s still possible to catch something when you physically look at each ballot.“Maybe some just made an errant mark that didn’t go in the right spot, so it didn’t get counted. But if we were looking at it manually, we might see oh well they meant to mark it right here,” said Rowlett.Election officials tell KOCO 5 they expect the recounts to last several hours because they’re having to go through thousands of ballots.Representatives from each campaign will be on hand to watch the recount.Rowlett said there won’t necessarily be a change in results.“It’s really unusual for it to reverse, usually it widens the gap, rather than narrows the gap,” Rowlett said.Once the recounts are finished, local election boards will certify the result. In House District 20, the winner will face Democrat Mitchell Jacob in November. The winner in Senate District 15 will face Democrat Elizabeth Foreman.Top HeadlinesShooting at Georgia high school leads to multiple victims, suspect in custodyOnline sports betting costs Americans twice as much in retirement, study saysOHP: Oklahoma City man died day after near drowning at Lake ThunderbirdPolice shoot suspects after fire breaks out at Edmond homePolice identify suspect, release new details after standoff at OKC home ends in shooting
OKLAHOMA CITY — On Thursday, election officials in Cleveland and McClain counties will recount the ballot in the Republican primary for House District 20 and Senate District 15.
Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.
For the race in House District 20, which includes parts of Cleveland and McClain counties, Mike Whaley is trailing his opponent, Jonathan Wil by only 5 votes. Experts tell KOCO 5 that is extremely rare.
“In Oklahoma, it’s particularly unusual, for a number of reasons, but even across the United States, we’re talking about something like 36 recounts in the last four years,” said Melody Huckaby Rowlett, with the University of Oklahoma.
Despite that, two local races are set to go through a hand recount before county judges on Thursday.
In Senate District 15, Lisa Strandridge is ahead of Robert Keyes by 55 votes.
>> Download the KOCO 5 App
Rowlett said while computers have reduced the need for recounts, it’s still possible to catch something when you physically look at each ballot.
“Maybe some just made an errant mark that didn’t go in the right spot, so it didn’t get counted. But if we were looking at it manually, we might see oh well they meant to mark it right here,” said Rowlett.
Election officials tell KOCO 5 they expect the recounts to last several hours because they’re having to go through thousands of ballots.
Representatives from each campaign will be on hand to watch the recount.
Rowlett said there won’t necessarily be a change in results.
“It’s really unusual for it to reverse, usually it widens the gap, rather than narrows the gap,” Rowlett said.
Once the recounts are finished, local election boards will certify the result. In House District 20, the winner will face Democrat Mitchell Jacob in November. The winner in Senate District 15 will face Democrat Elizabeth Foreman.
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