As we noted in this space Sunday, last week’s municipal elections in Rocky Mount and Sharpsburg were low-key, low-turnout affairs. Neither town drew anywhere close to even 20 percent of registered voters to the polls.
But that doesn’t mean the show is over in Sharpsburg. Linda Virgil, a fourth-place finisher in a contest for three town board seats, has asked for a recount.
Her request is a fair one, at least in the eyes of state law. Virgil finished with 119 votes. Becky Humphrey, who finished third, garnered 124 votes.
The slim margin gives Virgil the right to ask for a recount, so poll workers will count the votes once again. It’s unlikely that the count will change or that the result will qualify for a runoff election. But a process is in place just in case the vote does change significantly.
Election board workers in the Twin Counties will count votes again in just a couple of weeks when other muncipalities in the area hold elections.
It seems a shame to spend public money for low-turnout races on two different occasions within a few weeks of one another. There are no state or national contests on the ballot this year.
Why not hold elections for all area towns on the same day?
