Eastside election recounts

Bothell, Redmond, and Mercer Island council races going to recount.

Upon the Nov. 26 certification of King County 2019 General Election results, three races are officially set for a mandatory recount — and they’re all on the Eastside.

Machine recounts will take place for the city of Mercer Island council Pos. 1 race between Dave Rosenbaum and Daniel Thompson and the city of Redmond council Pos. 1 race between Varisha Khan and Hank Myers.

A hand recount will take place for the city of Bothell council Pos. 2 race between Leigh Henderson and Mason Thompson. This is a multi-county race, shared with Snohomish County.

In order for a race to qualify for a mandatory hand recount, the candidates must be less than 150 votes and 0.25 percent apart, according to Halei Watkins, King County Elections communications officer. To qualify for a machine recount, she said the candidates must be less than 2,000 votes and 0.5 percent apart.

The most recent King County count is as of Nov. 25.

In Mercer Island, Rosenbaum is ahead with 4,808 votes (50.15 percent) and Thompson has 4,768 votes (50.15 percent).

In Redmond, Khan is ahead with 6,666 (50.15 percent) and Myers has 6,600 votes (49.65 percent).

In Bothell the candidates are just five votes apart, according to the combined data of both counties presented on the Snohomish County auditor’s website, last updated Nov. 26. Thompson is ahead overall with 5,807 votes (49.91 percent) and Henderson has 5,802 votes (49.87 percent).

According to the King County Elections website, the counting will begin Dec. 5 at 8:30 a.m. and the King County Canvassing Board is expected to meet on Dec. 6 to certify the results.