Grandpa, I have been updating a spreadsheet since the Wednesday after the election because of the closeness of this race. My figures show Rossi winning by between 3 and 4 thousand votes. If that is true, there will be no mandatory recount - only one paid for by the loser. My guess is that the expense will not be worth it for the very slim possibility of change. The vote difference will have to be below 2000 before a mandatory recount is required.

On a side note, the Secretary of State will introduce a bill that will require absentees to be in the hands of the County Auditor on Election Day in order to be counted. I encourage everyone to contact their Legislators to support this. Although exciting, this is a ridiculous exercise. In the case of Cantwell/Gorton in 2000, we did not know who was elected until December.