Calgary election recount denial sparks anger, potential court complaints
Two second-place council candidates are upset with Elections Calgary over its decision to deny their election recount requests.
Four requests were officially turned down on Thursday, but it's two especially-tight races that are the focus of candidate disappointment Friday.
In Ward 9, runner-up Naomi Withers says she had enough evidence in her request to warrant another look.
"This is about making sure the vote is counted," Withers told CTV News. "This must happen, regardless of the vote and which way it goes."
Withers lost to incumbent Gian-Carlo Carra by only 161 votes.
In a series of tweets, she alleges her scrutineers spotted issues with tabulator machines and with administration rules regarding vote observation.
She says the recount request process was a puzzling one.
"So there might actually have to be some process improvements with Elections Calgary back-and-forth when someone does request a recount, because I'm not a lawyer and I don't think many of us are," she said.
"We could come out and be off by 400 votes, and that's something our team is OK with."
According to the city, the Elections Calgary returning officer needs to determine there's been a technical or administrative error that would've impacted the vote in order to accept a recount request.
The officer may also initiate a recount on their own volition if they consider the number of rejected and objected-to ballots would have an effect on the results.
There is no recount process which is initiated because of a close vote result.
A statement from the city's communications teams says "in the case of the four recount requests made by candidates, and the returning officer’s own review of administrative and technical matters, there were no reasonable grounds to believe that the result of the count of votes was inaccurate."
In Ward 4, DJ Kelly disagrees.
Kelly lost to incumbent Sean Chu in another tight race, the two candidates separated by only 100 votes.
"The Local Authorities Elections Act as it is written gives the returning officer limited discretion and authority to conduct a recount," Kelly's statement to CTV News reads. "As a result, I will begin the process of requesting a judicial recount."
Recounts were also denied in Ward 3 and in the mayoral race.
Any runner up is eligible to file a complaint for a judicial review.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
What Canadians think of the latest Liberal budget
A new poll suggests the Liberals have not won over voters with their latest budget, though there is broad support for their plan to build millions of homes.
opinion Why you should protect your investments by naming a trusted contact person
Appointing a trusted person to help with financial obligations can give you peace of mind. In his personal finance column for CTVNews.ca, Christopher Liew outlines the key benefits of naming a confidant to take over your financial responsibilities, if the need ever arises.
Teacher shortages see some Ontario high school students awarded perfect grades on midterm exams
Students at a high school in York Region have been awarded perfect marks on their midterm exams in three subjects – not because of their academic performances however, but because they had no teacher.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Ottawa injects another $36M into vaccine injury compensation fund
The federal government has added $36.4 million to a program designed to support people who have been seriously injured or killed by vaccines since the end of 2020.
An Ontario senior thought he called Geek Squad for help with his printer. Instead, he got scammed out of $25,000
An Ontario senior’s attempt to get technical help online led him into a spoofing scam where he lost $25,000. Now, he’s sharing his story to warn others.
Her fiance has been in prison for 49 years. She's trying to free him before it's too late
Christine Roess is a retired consultant. Ezra Bozeman has spent the last 49 years in prison, serving a life sentence for a murder he says he didn’t commit. Against the odds, the two fell in love.