AUGUSTA--Two recounts resulting from the November General Election were held today for House District 56 and 144.   In a recount completed this morning for House District 144, Jacqueline A. Lundeen (D) of Mars Hill remained the winner by a margin of 25 votes after the ballots were recounted under the supervision of the Secretary of State’s Office.  Margaret L. Niblett (R) of Easton had requested the recount after the preliminary results from Election Day showed her to have lost the election.  

In the recount completed this afternoon for House District 56, Christopher G. Hall (D) of Bristol was determined to be the winner by a margin of 22 votes.   Hall had requested the recount after the preliminary results from Election Day showed him to have lost the election to John C. Harris (R) of South Bristol.

All recounts will be conducted in a secure State Police building on Hospital Street in Augusta.  Recounts are a public proceeding and members of the media may attend to observe.  State law requires the State Police to collect the ballots for the recounts and keep them in the secured State Police facility until the recounts have been completed.  The ballots are stored in tamperproof metal containers and are closed with specially numbered security seals and locks.

A person requesting a recount may be required by law to make a deposit, depending on the margin of victory in the election.  For example, if the margin between the two candidates in an election is less than 2 % of the votes cast, then no deposit is required.  If the margin is 2 % to 4%, then a $500 deposit is required.  If the margin is greater than 4 %, then a $1,000 deposit is required.

In a recount, the representatives of each candidate and the staff of the Division of Elections manually review each ballot to determine the official vote tally.  Recounts are requested based upon the unofficial initial results, sometimes called the apparent results.

A candidate who requests and receives a recount may withdraw from the recount, thus ending the process, at any time while the recount shows that candidate did not win the election.  If, during the recount, the candidate requesting the recount overtakes the candidate who initially appeared to win the election, the candidate requesting the recount may not withdraw the request.

If a recount in a general election for the Maine House of Representatives produces enough disputed ballots to affect the election result, the House itself reviews the disputed ballots and resolves the election outcome.  This is also true for recounts affecting a Maine Senate seat.  This procedure is set forth in the Maine Constitution.

A list of all recounts requested as of this date is attached.  The deadline for requesting a recount for candidates and referendum questions is Wednesday, November 15, 2000 at 5 p.m., and all requests must be submitted in writing to the Secretary of State.

Updates and results of the recounts will be available throughout the recount process by calling 626-8406. 

Office/	District	Candidate (Party)	Unofficial   Recount	Official  Results	Results Date/Time
Senate	11	Susan W. Longley (D) of Liberty John A. Ford, Sr.  (R) of Brooks	9,846   9,783		Thursday Nov. 16 9 a.m.
Senate	23	Betheda G. Edmonds (D) of Freeport  David P. Snow (R) of  Yarmouth	8,671   8,589		Wednesday Nov. 15 9 a.m.
House	56	John C. Harris (R) of South Bristol Christopher G. Hall (D) of Bristol	2,731   2,724	2,694 2,716	Tuesday Nov. 14 1 p.m.
House	98	Paul R. Hatch (D) of Skowhegan David G. Summers (R) of Skowhegan	1,293   1,274		Friday Nov. 17 9 a.m.
House	122	Peter D. Chase (R) of Levant Daniel B. Williams (D) of Orono	2,329   2,312		Friday Nov. 17 1 p.m.
House	137	Anita P. Haskell (R) of Milford Laura J. Sanborn (D) of Alton	2,003   1,968		Monday  Nov. 20 9 a.m.
House	144	Jacqueline A. Lundeen (D) of Mars Hill  Margaret L. Niblett (R) of Easton	1,822   1,799	1,824 1,799	Tuesday  Nov. 14 9 a.m.
House	148	Florence T. Young (R) of Limestone Wade E. McLaughlin (D) of Limestone	380   372		Monday  Nov. 20 1 p.m.

Updates and results of the recounts will be available throughout the recount process by calling 626-8406.