Recounts are likely in several Southwest Washington races, based on updated ballot counts from the Clark County Elections Office on Tuesday.
A machine recount is required when the difference between candidates is less than 2,000 votes and less than 1⁄2 of 1 percent of the total number of votes cast.
- The two candidates in the 18th District Senate race are still fewer than 300 votes apart. Democrat Adrian Cortes continues his lead with 41,358 votes (50.05 percent) to Republican Brad Benton’s 41,094 (49.73 percent), a 264-vote lead.
- Matt Little’s lead in the Clark County Council District 4 election remains in the close race. Little has 23,402 votes (49.7 percent) against Joe Zimmerman who has 23,320 (49.52 percent) — an 82-vote lead.
- Clark County’s Charter Amendment 18, which would change the county’s initiative process, is losing by 370 votes, with 117,836 voters — 50.08 percent — against the proposal.
Other races, though close, seem settled.
- In the race for the 17th Legislative District House Position 2 seat, Republican David Stuebe remains ahead of Democrat Terri Niles. Stuebe has 42,180 (50.36 percent) and Niles has 41,238 (49.35 percent), a 942-vote lead.
- In the 17th Legislative District Senate race, Republican Paul Harris is winning. He has 43,175 votes (51.18 percent) to Democrat Marla Keethler’s 41,063 votes (48.67 percent), a 2,112-vote lead.
- Republican John Ley is winning in the 18th Legislative District, Position 2 race with 41,813 votes (50.83 percent) against Democrat John Zingale with 40,310 votes (49 percent), 1,503-vote lead.
- The city of Vancouver’s Proposition 4 — to increase funding for more law enforcement officers — failed with 42,028 voters (52.29 percent) casting ballots against it.
The Clark County Elections office website indicates 3,500 votes are left to count. The next update will be 4 p.m. Wednesday.
