The Pennsylvania Department of State has decided to halt the recount for the U.S. Senate race after incumbent Senator Bob Casey conceded to Republican candidate Dave McCormick. In an email shared with Votebeat and Spotlight PA, Pennsylvania’s deputy secretary of state, Jonathan Marks, informed county election officials that Casey requested the end of the recount process.
McCormick secured victory by a margin of over 16,000 votes, which equates to 0.24%. Research indicates that such a narrow margin is highly unlikely to change as a result of a recount. According to state law, a recount is automatically triggered if the margin is within 0.5%, but the losing candidate has the option to waive it. The recount, initially announced by Secretary of State Al Schmidt on November 13, was expected to be concluded next week.
In a statement, Schmidt expressed gratitude to Pennsylvania’s election officials for their dedicated efforts during the election cycle, highlighting their commitment to accurately counting millions of ballots and conducting two audits to ensure the integrity of the votes cast on November 5.
This decision reflects a smooth transition in the electoral process and underscores the importance of transparency and efficiency in local election administration. It is encouraging to see that election officials are committed to ensuring that every eligible vote is counted accurately, reinforcing public confidence in the democratic process.
Overall, while the recount has been called off, the integrity of the electoral system remains strong, allowing Pennsylvania to move forward positively from this election.