How will the Goode/Perriello recount work?

By: Jay Warren | WSLS
Published: November 26, 2008

Say recount and most people instantly think of hanging chads and mass confusion.

But in Virginia the recount process is generally much smoother. Think back to 2005 when the difference in the attorney general's race was 360 votes. Every locality went back over every vote and there were few errors found. Republican Bob McDonnell went in ahead and ended ahead, albeit with 30 fewer votes.

The Goode/Perriello race is only for the 5th Congressional District. There are far fewer localities, 22 to be exact, where the votes have to be recounted. Still each side will have an army of supporters there watching every move election officials make.

Virgil Goode told me his campaign would have two observers at every locality. They'll be unpaid, but likely lawyers. And he says he's getting a lot of help from the Virginia Republican Party. There’s no word on how much his campaign will spend on the recount.

Team Perriello plans to have one volunteer at each locality. They've already hired a legal team and believe the recount will cost them $100,000. That’s money the campaign still has to raise.

Speaking of money, how much does a recount cost and who pays for it?

In this case, since the vote difference is less than half a percentage point, the localities are responsible for the bill. Several officials told me it's hard to estimate a cost at this point. But, in 2005 Roanoke County spent $430 on the attorney general recount where they discovered not one error.

Finally, what exactly will elections officials do during the recount?

The recount is simply a test to see if the vote tallies were recorded correctly. They'll review computer printouts, re-run optical scan ballots, and count paper ballots by hand. No voting irregularities will be brought up at this time. It's simply a check of the vote.

Officials with the State Board of Elections say the recount will be complete before Christmas, possibly as early as the second week of December.

A hearing will be held next Tuesday in Goochland to iron out the final procedures for the recount.

The results of the recount are final and can not be appealed. According to Virginia code, the losing candidate’s only option is to challenge the results in court.