Possible Recounts for Attorney General, 86th House District in Virginia Elections?

[Editor's note: The lead in the Attorney General race changed again and has been corrected below.] 

A possible recount of the votes in the Virginia Attorney General’s race may not be the only race that will re-tally votes.

Still too close to call, it’s not yet clear whether Mark Herring or Mark Obenshain will be Virginia’s next top lawyer. According to the Virginia State Board of Elections’ website – the results are not official until certified – Obenshain holds a lead of about 319 votes. That’s after nearly 2.2 million people voted, leaving the difference within the one percent – .01 percent, actually – and qualifying the candidate with the lower votes to request a recount.

In the race for the House of Delegates’ 86th District, incumbent Tom Rust (R) edged his opponent, Jennifer Boysko, by just 56 votes. That also falls within one percent of the total vote, leaving Boysko the option to request a recount.

While one precinct remains unreported in the 87th House District, Democrat John Bell conceded last night to incumbent David Ramadan (R), despite the state results showing the race within one percent of the vote. According to the state website, Bell trails Ramadan by less than 200 votes, not counting the unreported precinct.

Recounts are not automatic in Virginia. The apparent losing candidate must request the recount, which cannot be done until after votes are certified.

[Correction: The wrong district number was listed for the Rust/Boysko race. It has been corrected. There is no recount possible in the 67th District.]