Recount Scheduled For Town Council Candidate Votes

PHILIP THIBODEAU PHOTO

On Tuesday, November 11, a recount of the votes cast for Southington Town Council will be held at Town Hall to verify the tallies for all twelve candidates - but with a special focus on the totals for Republican Tony Morrison and Democrat Shawn Grindle, which are only 36 votes apart.

Connecticut election law requires a recount if the vote tallies for two candidates differ by less than 0.5% of their combined total. Morrison's 5,711 votes and Grindle's 5,675 add up to 11,386; half of a percent of this sum is 57; so, since 36 is less than 57, a recount is required.

The recount will be held in the old Council chamber room in Town Hall at 75 Main Street. According to Town Clerk Kathy Larkin, it will begin shortly after Town Hall opens at 8:30, and continue until all of the ballots have been tabulated. For the sake of consistency, tallies will be also be made of the votes received by the other ten candidates. In the event - highly unlikely, but not impossible - that Grindle overtakes Morrison. the former will replace the latter on Town Council, and the Republican majority will be 5-4 rather than 6-3.

The count will be overseen by the Town Clerk's office, with representatives from both parties present to verify the results. The event is open to the public. How long it will take to count the 11,000+ ballots is anyone's guess; that it will take more than one day seems very likely.