Walton requests recanvass in SD-11

The 24 vote margin that propelled former U.S. Marshal and Boone County jailer John Schickel (R-Union) over former state Rep. and school principal Charlie Walton (R-Florence) in last Tuesday's Republican primary in the 11th state Senate district was not surprisingly challenged by Walton.

The Office of the Secretary of State Trey Grayson announced today that the 11th District race would be one of three recanvassed on Thursday morning by state officials.

Speaking to Patrick Crowley of the Kentucky Enquirer, Grayson earlier indicated a recanvass in that race was likely appropriate.

"A recanvass is essentially checking the math, making sure everything adds up," Grayson said. "When you have multiple machines in a precinct it's possible that some mistakes can be made.

"I haven't seen any huge swings on recanvasses, but I have seen a few votes," he said. "And 24 votes is not a very big margin of victory.

Initial counts showed that Schickel initially won the hotly-contested northern Kentucky race - and the seat, as there exists no Democratic opposition in November -
by a count of 4,341 to 4,317.

Fresh results should be available shortly after the scheduled Thursday recanvass.

John Sizemore's (D-Saylersville) request for a recanvass of the vote in the 92nd state House district Democratic primarywill also be granted on Thursday. Initial counts gave Ancel 'Hard Rock' Smith (D-Leburn) a win in that primary by 235 votes.

Results from a judicial race from McReary and Whitley Counties will also be recanvassed.

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