Votes will be recounted in Hartland school board race following tie vote

Livingston County election officials are preparing to re-tally votes in the Hartland Consolidated Schools Board of Education race at candidate Greg Keller's request after he lost a drawing to break a tie vote at the polls.

Keller and incumbent Michelle Hemeyer both received 5,264 votes, according to official Livingston County election results.

Earlier this month, the Livingston County Board of Canvassers confirmed the tie and conducted a tiebreaker drawing in accordance with state election law. Hemeyer drew a piece of paper that indicated she was "elected," while Keller drew "not elected."

"At the end of the day, it was a tie, so I think the preferred option for either candidate, myself or Ms. Hemeyer, would be to have something that was decided by a matter of actual votes instead of a paper draw," Keller said Tuesday. "That is one of the big factors for me."

Hemeyer said she attempted to stop the recount by filing an objection to Keller's petition.

Livingston County Clerk Elizabeth Hundley confirmed Tuesday afternoon the four members of the county Board of Canvassers voted unanimously to proceed with the recount.

Hemeyer said Tuesday morning before the hearing she decided to contest the recount "once I learned the financial cost that is was going to cost the district."

The school district will be responsible for reimbursing the county. Hemeyer said county officials have told her it could cost the school district $10,000 to $15,000.

"The thing is, I’ve served on the board for over seven years and I’ve taken an oath for fiscal responsibility," she said. "The district can use that money for other things, and that is why I’m contesting."

Hundley said the county does not have an exact estimate of what the recount will cost.

"We don't know how long the recount will take, and a big expense is paying people to work. It depends on how many teams of four, and they have to take breaks and have meals, and there will probably be mileage," she said Monday.

Hundley said the recount could begin as soon as Friday, and she expects to know soon.

The Livingston County Board of Canvassers has to wait for the state Bureau of Elections to authorize the action.

Before the county can start its recount, 48-hour deadlines related to recounts in state races must pass. The clock on those deadlines started Monday after the Michigan Board of State Canvassers certified elections results and adjourned.

Hundley said since there were nine candidates vying for three seats on the Hartland School Board, votes for all nine candidates will have to be counted.

The other winning candidates were Glenn Gogoleski, who received 5,453 votes, and incumbent Meghan Glabach, who was reelected with 5,413 votes, according to official Livingston County election results. No other candidates received 5,000 votes. Robert Merwin totaled 4,763.

Michelle Blondeel won a separate race for a partial term with 6,898 votes.

RELATED: Hartland school board seat decided by draw after tie vote at the polls

Keller said people have been donating to help cover the filing fee and attorney fees associated with a recount, but he did not know the total amount Tuesday.

The Livingston County Republican Party organized a fundraising campaign on his behalf.

In order to file a petition requesting a recount, a candidate must pay a $25 deposit for each precinct and another $25 to recount absentee votes in each precinct. The Hartland school district covers 12 voting precincts, amounting to a $600 deposit.

Deposits are refunded to petitioning candidates if the recount changes the outcome of the election, according to the Michigan Secretary of State's summary of the recount process.

Public can attend recount, silently

Hundley said election officials reserved a room for the recount on the second floor of the Livingston County EMS Headquarters at 1911 Tooley Road for Friday and Saturday, with a backup plan to push it the following Friday and Saturday, if needed.

She said she does not know if the recount will be completed in one day or take longer.

Hundley said members of the public will be able to observe the recount from a designated area away from the ballot containers.

She said people will be required to remain completely silent, because workers tallying votes will need to be able to hear the candidate names being called out. She said those who do not remain silent will be told to leave.

Contact Livingston Daily reporter Jennifer Eberbach at jeberbach@livingstondaily.com. 

This article originally appeared on Livingston Daily: Votes will be recounted in Hartland school board race following tie