The Democratic primary for a southwest Franklin County seat in the Ohio House of Representatives is within automatic recount territory following the certification of the March 19 primary's election results Friday.
Democrat Mark Sigrist leads Sarah Pomeroy by 20 votes, or 0.44%. Sigrist is a Grove City councilmember and Pomeroy is a Columbus city attorney with the Property Action Team.
Ohio law states that when a race's results are within 0.5% difference there will be an automatic recount. Initially after election night, Sigrist lead Pomeroy by more votes to avoid an automatic recount, but the race narrowed as overseas ballots came in.
The Franklin County Board of Elections will begin the recount process.
Ohio Revised Code said that no recount shall be held prior to the official canvass and certification of the election. County board of elections members have to fix the time, method and place of the recount and the board must give five days notice of a recount.
The recount must be held within six to ten days after the automatic recount has been ordered or the application requesting the recount is filed.
The ultimate winner of this primary will face Republican Brian Garvine in November.
Republican State Rep. Dave Dobos currently holds the seat, but declined to seek re-election after he was accused and admitted to misleading people by claiming he graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
