Florida orders recount of Senate and governor race votes
- Results for two key contests due by 3pm on Thursday
- State law triggers a machine recount if the difference in a race is within 0.5 per cent
Florida authorities on Saturday ordered a statewide recount in the contentious races for US Senate and governor, amid tit-for-tat accusations of fraud from the candidates – plunging the state once again into election uncertainty.
Eighteen years after the Sunshine State found itself at the heart of a battle for the US presidency, it was once again in the spotlight after Tuesday’s vote, which left the contests for statewide offices undecided.
Florida’s 67 counties had been given until midday on Saturday to submit unofficial totals.
State law triggers a machine recount if the difference in a race is within 0.5 per cent. Florida’s secretary of state Ken Detzner issued the official order for the recounts after the deadline.
After the cut-off, the Senate race between outgoing Republican governor Rick Scott and incumbent Democrat Bill Nelson was super close: Scott’s lead stood at just 12,562 votes out of nearly 8.2 million cast, a margin of just 0.15 per cent.
