A recount of the race for select board was held Monday at Oak Bluffs library. The hand count of the 1,091 votes lasted more than an hour and a half, and resulted in the same outcome — incumbent Gail Barmakian, 505, to 503 for challenger Dion Alley.
Barmakian told The Times she is “relieved” by the outcome after the recount was certified by the board of registrars. She had no expectations going into the recount.
The recount was requested by Alley, who lost to incumbent Barmakian by 2 votes, 505-503, when the votes were tallied on election night, Thursday, April 14.
Both Barmakian and Alley were present for the recount, which was being conducted by the Oak Bluffs Town Clerk Colleen Morris along with the board of registrars. There were other observers present as well.
After the outcome was announced, Alley walked up to Barmakian to shake her hand and offer congratulations. “It was important to recount based on a two-vote difference, with over 1,000 votes cast,” Alley said in a statement sent to The Times.“The recount team led by Town Clerk Colleen Morris was professionally done, and I appreciate all of the poll workers and observers, and this should give our voters confidence in our election process and how important your vote is. I congratulate Gail on the confirmation of her victory, and will continue to support the town as they need. I will run again next year, and want to thank the people of Oak Bluffs for their support and trust they have given me.”
A third candidate for select board, Jim Bishop, received just 49 votes. Bishop announced via his Facebook page two days before the April 14 election that he was withdrawing from the race, and asked his supporters to instead vote for Alley. Bishop’s name could not be removed from the ballot.
How many fraudulent votes?
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