Sebastian County recount underway after challenger cites election-night concerns

FORT SMITH, Ark. — Sebastian County election workers began a hand recount Monday in the race for county judge after challenger Ken Blevins — who drew about 20% of the vote — paid a $2,500 fee to have ballots counted again, saying voters raised concerns about how results appeared on election night.

Blevins told 40/29 News he requested the recount after hearing from residents who felt the process looked abrupt and opaque.

“It’s not sour grapes,” he said. “People just want to know that the election was fair. It’s important for transparency that people know that they just didn’t make the votes up.”

The margin he faces is steep. On election night, incumbent County Judge Steve Hotz won nearly 80% of the more than 10,000 votes cast in the contest, leaving Blevins trailing by 6,049 votes, with only a small number of provisional ballots still outstanding. To flip the result, Blevins would need a swing of more than 6,000 votes — an outcome election administrators describe as highly unlikely.


https://www.4029tv.com/article/sebastian-county-recount-underway-after-challenger-cites-election-night-concerns/70685924