WESTFIELD – Westfield Police Sr. Capt. Michael A. McCabe spent the days following the Nov. 5 election weighing his recount options.
He and his opponent, state Sen. Donald F. Humason Jr., were separated by 97 votes Tuesday. McCabe said on election night he was not likely to ask for a recount, but reconsidered the next day after realizing just how close the race was and that some people reported difficulty with voting machines.
He said he changed his mind when he discovered that the difference of 97 votes gave Humason a margin of victory of less than 1%. McCabe received 4,886 votes to Humason’s 4,983. Some residents spoke of “automatic recounts” in social media posts, however, state law puts the recount responsibility on candidates.
According to the office of State Secretary William F. Galvin, in Massachusetts, “the purpose of a recount is to ascertain the will and intention of the voters.”
Only a candidate for the position can petition for a recount, and it must be done to the local election official — Westfield City Clerk Karen Fanion – in writing within 10 days after an election.
A document posted on mass.gov states that a recount petition must include a notarized signature of registered voters from each ward in the community. A city with wards, excluding Boston, requires at least 10 signatures from each ward.
“Each petition sheet must be accompanied by a written request for a recount signed by the candidate on whose behalf it is being conducted,” notes the document. “Upon receipt of recount petitions, the city or town clerk will deliver them to the registrars of voters . . . A recount may not be held before the deadline for filing recount petitions.”
After certifying the petition, the registrar must set the recount time and place and give written notice at least three days prior to the recount to each candidate for the office in question.
There were 9,978 total ballots cast out of Westfield’s 24,919 voters to bring the turnout to 40 percent.
