Recount Will Be Held on Friday

While votes tallied during Tuesday's election solidified another two years of democratic majorities on the town council and board of education, exactly who will be seated on the board and council has yet to be determined.

Close races for Republican seats will require a recount, to be held Friday morning at Town Hall.

On the council, the closest vote tally received was between incumbent candidate Ron Eleveld and newcomer Lisa Boccia, who were separated by four votes. Incumbent Aaron Jubrey also received just 18 more votes than Boccia.

Current tallies have Boccia supplanting Eleveld on the council.

On the school board, the closest vote tally received was between newcomer Kristin Ingram and former board member Patricia DiGiore, who were separated by 14 votes. Current tallies have DiGiore (who sat on the board from 2005-09 before losing her seat in the '09 election) replacing Ingram.

Ingram was seated on the board as a replacement for David Gay in September.

A recount is a rare procedure for Windsor's election staff, who were given Re-canvass Procedure Manuals Wednesday to ensure that the recount is handled per state law.

According to Karen Andrews, Republican registrar of voters, ballots from each polling place and absentee ballots will be combed over by hand in search for those that may have triggered an incorrect reading when run through counting machines.

Ballots that may trigger an incorrect reading include those that were filled out incorrectly, said Andrews.

Windsor's voting system requires voters to completely fill in ovals next to each candidate's name; however, a voter may have drawn an "x" through the oval, or circled the oval. Machines will not register these as votes, according to Andrews.

If defective ballots are found, workers will interpret the intent of the voter, Andrews said.

The remaining ballots, with correctly placed votes, will be placed through voting machines again.

Town Clerk Agnes Pier notified election Head Monitor Jay Melley, a Democrat. A Republican, Andrews noted, will be required to be alongside Melley during the recount.

The recount will take place Friday at 9 a.m. in Town Hall Council Chambers.