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Charles Town council sets $50 recount bond, accepts provisionals and declares municipal election results
Summary
At a May 28 special meeting, the Charles Town City Council canvassed the municipal election, set a $50 bond for any recount, accepted five provisional ballots despite a signature irregularity, and voted to enter the results into the official record; certification will occur after the required 48-hour wait.
The Charles Town City Council convened a special canvass meeting on May 28 to review ballots and enter municipal election results into the official record.
Caroline Vasazos, whom the council introduced as its election expert, conducted the ballot review and reported a total of 508 ballots. The council first set a bond amount for any recount at $50, then addressed provisional ballots and procedural signatures before moving to formally declare the results.
The chair opened the meeting and explained the purpose: “This is a municipal election canvassing,” and reminded the body that law requires a 48-hour waiting period before certification. The council quickly moved to set a bond for a potential recount; after a motion and second, the chair announced the bond was set at $50.
Vasazos led the canvass, separating early and absentee ballots and recounting stacks. She confirmed the totals and noted five provisional ballots that needed disposition. During checks, Vasazos said some ballots bore only one poll-worker signature when two signatures were required, a discrepancy several council members raised as an issue for future precinct oversight.
A council member moved to accept the provisional ballots “with the error and the signatures,” and the motion was discussed and put forward. Later in the meeting that same member moved “to declare the election results and end the results into the official record,” a motion that received a second and passed by voice vote; the chair announced, “The ayes have it.”
The chair reiterated that certification could not occur until the 48-hour statutory window had closed and gave the specific time: certification could occur at or after 07:16 on Friday, after which the council plans to approve minutes and swear in the new mayor. No further business was raised and the meeting concluded.
Key actions taken at the canvass: the council set a $50 bond amount for any recount; accepted provisional ballots despite a signature irregularity noted in the precinct paperwork; and voted to enter the declared results into the official minutes. The council noted procedural points — including missing poll-worker signatures on some envelopes — for follow-up to reduce such irregularities in future elections.
