August 12, 2004: Headlines: COS - El Salvador: Politics: Election2004 - Kefalas: The Coloradoan: Election's outcome may be month away between Bill Bertschy and El Salvador RPCV John Kefalas
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August 12, 2004: Headlines: COS - El Salvador: Politics: Election2004 - Kefalas: The Coloradoan: Election's outcome may be month away between Bill Bertschy and El Salvador RPCV John Kefalas
Election's outcome may be month away between Bill Bertschy and El Salvador RPCV John Kefalas
Election's outcome may be month away between Bill Bertschy and El Salvador RPCV John Kefalas
Election's outcome may be month away
107 ballots uncounted in House race
By MATTHEW BENSON
MattBenson@coloradoan.com
Photo
It could be late August or early September before the winner is known for the Democratic primary election in House District 52.
John Kefalas holds a two-vote lead over Bill Bertschy, but potentially dozens of uncounted ballots remain that could sway the outcome.
There are 22 Democratic provisional ballots from the district that have yet to be counted, said Larimer County Clerk and Recorder Scott Doyle. In addition, 60 absentee ballots remain, as well as an additional 25 that must have their signatures verified.
For Bertschy and Kefalas, that means the waiting game they've played since polls closed Tuesday will continue.
Both candidates said the delay places them at a fund-raising and campaigning disadvantage -- especially as they size up Republican incumbent Rep. Bob McCluskey for the Nov. 2 general election.
Bertschy noted that many groups and individuals hold their donations until they know who will emerge from the primary.
"This just puts that off another month," said Bertschy, a Fort Collins City Councilman.
Kefalas agreed.
"I don't foresee any (big) checks coming forward," he said.
Both men said it will be important to continue campaigning in the coming days and weeks as though they're advancing to the general election. They don't have much choice.
"Basically, the only chance we have is to proceed as if we're going to prevail," said Kefalas, a longtime community activist and lobbyist for Catholic Charities Northern. "There's no question this puts us at a disadvantage, but I don't see what the alternative is."
The remaining ballots will be certified by Aug. 22, and the full county election must be certified by Aug. 25.
Under state law, a recount is required if the margin between candidates is less than or equal to half of 1 percent of the votes for the top vote-getter in the race. In an election such as this, that threshold likely will be slightly more than a dozen votes.
"I can't imagine this thing not going to a recount," Doyle said Wednesday.
If needed, the Secretary of State's Office has until Sept. 1 to call for a recount. That would involve forming a recount committee and rerunning the ballots through the machines.
Either political party or candidate also could request a hand recount, but that could only be ordered by Secretary of State Donetta Davidson.
Regardless of provisional ballots and recounts, voters will know the winner of the District 52 primary no later than Sept. 8. That's the deadline for certification of the county's November ballot.
Ballot breakdown
Across Larimer County, there are 287 provisional and absentee ballots that have yet to be counted.
Here's the breakdown:
# 202 are provisional ballots. Of those, 22 are Democratic ballots in House District 52. It's not yet known how many of the provisional ballots will be ruled valid.
# 85 are absentee ballots, of which 25 must have their signatures verified. The party and district breakdown isn't known for the absentee ballots.
Key upcoming dates
# Aug. 22: Last day for provisional ballots to be counted and verified
# Aug. 25: Larimer County election certified
# Sept. 1: Deadline for Secretary of State's Office to call for a recount (if necessary)
# Sept. 8: Deadline to certify the November ballot
# Nov. 2: General election
Originally published Thursday, August 12, 2004
When this story was prepared, here was the front page of PCOL magazine:
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Story Source: The Coloradoan
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