Unofficial Returns Received from Pennsylvania Counties in Close Superior Court Election

Unofficial Returns Received from Pennsylvania Counties in Close Superior Court
Election

I

HARRISBURG, Pa., Nov. 10 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Secretary of the
Commonwealth Pedro A. Cortes today said the state has received the unofficial
returns from all 67 counties in the Nov. 3 statewide race for Judge of the
Superior Court. Secretary Cortes will use the unofficial returns to determine
whether an automatic recount will be required under state law.

"I thank the counties for working to provide the unofficial returns to us in a
timely manner," Cortes said. "This important election has generated
substantial interest across the state, and we are working to achieve a final
result as quickly as possible."

Act 97 of 2004 provides that any statewide race or ballot question where the
margin of victory was less than one half of one percent of the total number of
votes cast for that office or ballot question would automatically trigger a
recount in all 67 counties. If a Superior Court recount is required, it would
be the first one in the act's brief history.

Four seats on the Superior Court were open in last week's election. On
Election Night, Judy Olson, Sallie Mundy, Paula Ott and Anne E. Lazarus
received the four highest vote totals.

The unofficial returns provided by the counties today show three candidates
that are within the one-half of one percent margin:

-- Anne E. Lazarus - 723,954 (11.465%)
-- Robert J. Colville - 721,948 (11.434%, trails Lazarus by 0.032%)
-- Temp Smith - 720,624 (11.413%, trails Lazarus by 0.053%)
-- Kevin Francis McCarthy - 711,240 (11.264%, trails Lazarus by 0.201%)
-- Sum of all votes - 6,314,250

-- One-half of 1 percent - 31,571

Secretary Cortes indicated the recount may begin as soon as Nov. 16, unless
all the defeated candidates request in writing that a recount not be made.
Robert J. Colville and Kevin Francis McCarthy submitted to the Secretary such
a letter Nov. 9 and Nov. 10 respectively. Both Colville and McCarthy stated
they would opt out only if the other trailing candidates decided not to pursue
a recount as well.

The Department of State estimated the recount could cost as much as $1.3
million.

If a recount is necessary, state law requires the counties to complete the
recount by Nov. 25 and to report the results to the Department of State by
noon, Nov. 30. A comprehensive calendar of relevant dates is attached below.

Unofficial elections returns are available through www.dos.state.pa.us by
clicking on the elections returns graphic on the right-hand side of the
homepage.

For more information on elections and voter registration, call the Department
of State's toll-free hotline at 1-877-VOTESPA (1-877-868-3772) or visit
www.VOTESPA.com.

Media contact: Leslie Amoros, 717-576-4520 or Charlie Young, 717-649-7617.

Editor's Note: A calendar of dates relevant to the election and potential
recount is attached.

CALENDAR FOR THE TRANSMITTAL OF ELECTION NIGHT RETURNS / RECOUNT OR RECANVASS
ORDERED BY THE SECRETARY OF THE COMMONWEALTH
NOVEMBER 3, 2009 MUNICIPAL ELECTION

1. By 2:00 AM on this date, each judge of election must return to the county
boards of elections the following materials: envelopes; supplies, including
all uncast provisional ballots; and returns, including all provisional ballots
and absentee ballots cast in the election district: Wed., Nov. 4, 2009

2. By 3:00 AM on this date, the county boards of elections must submit to the
Department of State returns received from the election districts for each
office for which a candidate must file a nomination petition with the
Secretary: Wed., Nov. 4, 2009

3. At 9:00 AM on this date, the county boards of elections must publicly
commence the computation and canvassing of returns: Fri., Nov. 6, 2009

4. No later than 5:00 PM on this date, the county boards of elections must
submit to the Secretary of the Commonwealth unofficial returns for all
statewide offices and ballot questions: Tues., Nov. 10, 2009

5. No later than 12:00 Noon on this date, the defeated candidates must request
in writing that a recount and recanvass not be made to avoid a statewide
recount and recanvass: Thur., Nov. 12, 2009*

*( Because November 11 - a date on which one of the statutory deadlines for
the mandatory recount process will occur - falls on the State holiday of
Veterans' Day, that deadline and each of the subsequent deadlines prescribed
by section 1404(g) of the Election Code will be deemed to be moved to the next
business day. See 25 P.S. Section 2603(e)).

6. By 5:00 PM on this date, the Secretary of the Commonwealth must issue, if
required, an order for a recount or recanvass: Fri., Nov. 13, 2009

7. Last day on which a recount or recanvass ordered by the Secretary of the
Commonwealth can be scheduled to begin: Thur., Nov. 19, 2009

8. By 12:00 Noon on this date, the recount or recanvass must be completed:
Wed., Nov. 25, 2009

9. No later than 12:00 Noon on this date, the county boards of elections must
submit the results of the recount or recanvass: Mon., Nov. 30, 2009*

*(Because November 26 and 27 are state holidays and November 28 and 29 fall
over a weekend, the date moves to November 30).

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of State

Leslie Amoros, +1-717-576-4520, or Charlie Young, +1-717-649-7617