Cofer gains six votes after canvassing of ballots

The Daily Inter Lake

A canvass of the Nov. 2 election ballots resulted in a net gain of six votes for the Republican candidate in the Flathead County commission race, making the margin of her defeat 131 votes.

A canvass of the Nov. 2 election ballots resulted in a net gain of six votes for the Republican candidate in the Flathead County commission race, making the margin of her defeat 131 votes.

The final tallies of the race were 18,667 votes for Democrat Joe Brenneman to 18,356 votes for the GOP's Denise Cofer.

County officials must comb through poll documents and other records following an election to make sure all ballots are accounted for and that vote counts from election day are accurate. The canvassing board included elections supervisor Dianne Murer, clerk and recorder Paula Robinson, volunteer Steve Elm, and commissioners Gary Hall, Bob Watne and Howard Gipe. Brenneman will replace Gipe, who is retiring.

Their review Monday found 28 votes that had not been counted, according to totals provided by the elections department.

Cofer could request a recount, although she would have to post a bond to cover the costs of tallying the ballots again. She could not be reached for comment Monday about whether she's decided to exercise that option.