BLOOMINGTON – On Wednesday, the Monroe County Democratic Party announces it has filed a recount petition for the Benton Township Board Member election.
With a mere four-vote difference between incumbent Democrat Hans Kelson and the Republican challenger Jake Dodds, Chair David G. Henry filed the petition on November 23rd at the Monroe County Courthouse.
“Never doubt that your vote matters,” said Henry. “In a race that tightened up during canvassing and certification to a four-vote margin, I am certain that if the situation were reversed that any party would seek a recount on behalf of their candidate. The Monroe County Democratic Party simply seeks to make the list, and check it twice to assure every lawfully cast vote was counted in such a closely contested election.”
Under Indiana Code, a county circuit court considers a petition for a recount. Should a recount be granted, the court will appoint a recount board. Their work must conclude by December 20, 2022, unless a court extends the deadline. The Monroe County Democratic Party has requested a hand recount of ballots cast in Benton precincts 1 and 2.
County party chairs have until noon on Monday, November 28, 2022, to file petitions for recounts. Typically, a county chair has until 17 days after the election to file a petition. However, the Thanksgiving holiday and closure of government offices extended the deadline to Monday.
The Monroe County Democratic Party is reviewing additional races for recount petitions at this time, including the Indiana House District 62 race. In a race where a district crosses multiple county lines, the county chair with the largest percentage of the district’s population has the right to file for a recount for the entire district. Those petitions for state house races must be filed in Indianapolis. For Indiana 62nd, the majority of the population is in Monroe County and the right to file a petition falls to the party chairpersons in Monroe County.
