In the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s race, a single vote gave Democrat Henry Whitehorn a victory over Republican John Nickelson. Political analyst Scott Hughes said they knew it would be a close race in the politically divided parish. He said Whitehorn was up about 2,000 votes but when the final northern rural precincts came in overwhelmingly for Nickelson…
“And we finished with one vote and it’s that old saying, one vote matters, but it truly mattered in Caddo Parish Saturday night,” said Hughes.
In Louisiana, a candidate has to request a recount to initiate the process and Hughes said it predominantly involves the mailed-in hand-voted ballots.
“My understanding is that the traditional process would be that those ballots, about 7,500 in this race would be rescanned. The computer would rescan those votes and they would look to see if there’s any difference in number,” said Hughes.
Hughes said hand ballots that were perhaps torn or in which both candidates received votes will be re-examined, and then the race will be certified.
In the primary, ironically in Caddo Parish, Hughes said there was a recount for a legislative race that came down a 32-vote difference. That recount found an additional three votes, but it didn’t change the outcome of that race.
“So, it’s not out of the realm of the ordinary that the outcome right now, Mr. Whitehorn being elected sheriff could change before the race is certified,” said Hughes.
Current Sheriff Steve Prator’s term ends June 30th.
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