Mayoral race in Atlantic Beach meets criteria for machine recount

ATLANTIC BEACH, Fla. – It appeared Wednesday that the mayoral race in Atlantic Beach would be heading to a machine recount, and the Duval County Supervisor of Elections Office sent a news release acknowledging just that.

The unofficial results of the election showed a .11% margin between the two leading candidates — Curtis Ford and Brittany Norris.

As noted by the Supervisor of Elections Office, the Duval County Canvassing Board must submit its unofficial results of the race by noon Monday. A recount is ordered by the county’s Canvassing Board in any race where the unofficial results indicate a candidate was defeated by half a percentage point or less.

According to the SOE, the recount will involve a statutorily required multi-step process. Tabulating equipment will be tested and ballots will be recounted. Once the recount is conducted, if the margin is within a quarter percent or less, a manual recount will be ordered unless the eliminated candidate requests the recount not be made -- or the number of overvotes and undervotes is fewer than the number needed to change the election’s outcome.

The proceedings will be open to the public.