The State Board of Elections certified the results of the Nov. 8 election yesterday, naming Republican Del. Robert F. McDonnell the winner in the Virginia attorney general race over Democrat Sen. Creigh Deeds.
According to election officials, 323 votes separate the candidates, out of 1.94 million total votes. McDonnell received 970,886 votes and Deeds received 970,563, with an additional 1,801 write-in votes counted.
Representatives for Deeds said the senator will request a recount tomorrow.
"I think this is the closest election in the history of the Commonwealth," Deeds Spokesman Mark Bergman said. "A recount is the right thing to do to make sure that all the votes are fairly counted and to ensure that the people's vote determines the result of the election."
Bergman said Deeds will file his petition in the Richmond City Circuit Court. According to his press release, Deeds believes a recount is necessary because McDonnell's margin of victory is below the required one-half of one percent; it is only one-hundredth of one percent.
McDonnell Communications and Policy Director John Philippe said while it is Deeds' right to ask for a recount, the McDonnell campaign does not anticipate any adjustment in the election results.
"[McDonnell] is grateful that the voters elected him attorney general," Phillipe said. "We are confident the results are not going to change. We fully expect [McDonnell] to be inaugurated on Jan. 14."
According to Barbara Cockrell, assistant secretary for elections and training at the State Board of Elections, the recount process will begin with a preliminary hearing held approximately five days after the recount petition is filed. At the hearing a panel of three judges will decide exactly how the recount will proceed.
"It is ultimately up to the court to determine the recount procedures with the advice of the State Board of Elections," Cockrell said.
Cockrell said she anticipates the recount will take place in mid-December. She also stated that this is only the second statewide recount in Virginia history. The first recount was in the 1989 governor's race, which concerned a gap of around 7,000 votes and did not change the results of the election.
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