Ballot recounts taking place in 4 tightly contested federal ridings

After last week’s election, ballots will be recounted in four ridings due to the extremely close results between the top candidates. In accordance with Canada’s election rules, a recount is automatically triggered when a candidate wins by less than 0.1 per cent of the overall vote in a riding. Additionally, candidates can also request a recount under certain circumstances.

Three of the four ridings were close enough to warrant an automatic recount, while a request was granted in the fourth. All recounts are overseen by a judge, with a select group allowed to witness the proceedings. This group includes the returning officer, the candidates, recount teams, legal counsel for each candidate, legal counsel for the chief electoral officer, and two representatives per candidate who are not members of the recount team.

Elections Canada announced that the Quebec riding of Terrebonne will undergo a recount, as the Bloc Québécois candidate narrowly defeated the Liberal candidate by 44 votes. Originally called for the Liberals, the riding flipped to the Bloc during the validation process, which is distinct from a recount and involves double-checking and verifying the numbers reported on election night.

A recount will also take place in Milton East-Halton Hills South, where the Liberal candidate won by a slim margin of 29 votes over the Conservative candidate. Similarly, in the N.L. riding of Terra Nova-The Peninsulas, the Liberal candidate emerged victorious by a mere 12 votes.

Furthermore, a judge ordered a recount in the Ontario riding of Windsor-Tecumseh-Lakeshore, where the Conservative candidate secured a win with a margin of 77 votes. The Liberal candidate requested this recount, citing affidavits from campaign scrutineers who witnessed valid ballots being rejected.

Despite the recounts, the Liberals are still three seats short of the 172 required for a majority government. The recounts in Terra Nova-The Peninsulas and Milton East-Halton Hills South are scheduled to begin next week, while the recount in Windsor-Tecumseh-Lakeshore will commence on May 20.

As the recount in Terrebonne started on Thursday, clarification is being sought from Elections Canada on its current status. The closely contested races in these ridings highlight the importance of every vote cast in shaping the outcome of elections.