The Pennsylvania Department of State has decided to cancel the recount for the U.S. Senate race after incumbent Senator Bob Casey conceded to Republican candidate Dave McCormick. This decision came following a communication from Casey requesting the termination of the recount process.
In an email sent to county election officials, Jonathan Marks, Pennsylvania’s deputy secretary of state, confirmed that counties that have not yet finished the recount would no longer be obligated to do so. McCormick’s victory margin of over 16,000 votes, equating to 0.24%, is statistically unlikely to change through a recount, as research suggests.
According to state law, an automatic recount is triggered when a statewide election is decided by a narrow margin of less than 0.5%, although the trailing candidate has the option to forgo this process. The recount was initiated by Secretary of State Al Schmidt on November 13, with completion initially scheduled for the following week.
In his statement, Schmidt expressed gratitude to Pennsylvania’s election officials for their diligent work throughout the election cycle, which involved counting millions of ballots and conducting two audits to ensure the accuracy of votes cast in the November 5 election.
This development reflects a commitment to maintaining the integrity of the electoral process while acknowledging the clarity of the election results. It is a reminder of the importance of swift resolutions in elections, fostering trust and confidence among voters in Pennsylvania.