Latah County Recount Confirms Election Results

A full recount in Latah County found that 2,343 ballots omitted from Idaho’s unofficial Election Day reporting did not alter any race or ballot-measure outcome. The Latah County Clerk’s Office conducted the recount Tuesday under oversight from the Idaho Office of Secretary of State, completing the work early Wednesday.

The ballots, representing 12.9% of the county’s 18,104 votes cast, came from part of the early-voting total. County tabulation equipment had counted them, but the results were not transmitted into the state reporting system.

Julie Fry, the elected Republican Latah County clerk, said the reporting failure should not have occurred. “We take our responsibility to accurately report election results seriously,” Fry said.

Results Remain Unchanged

The recount confirmed that the Moscow School District Plant Facilities Reserve Fund Levy received 60.34% support, above the 60% threshold required for approval.

It also confirmed Republican Dan Schoenberg’s 129-vote victory over Democrat Laura Heinse in a Latah County commissioner contest. Heinse had filed a complaint with Idaho Secretary of State Phil McGrane concerning the unreported ballots.

McGrane said Idaho’s election system includes procedures intended to verify both vote counting and reporting. “Elections have built-in safeguards to ensure votes are accurately counted and reported,” he said.

Certification and Audits Ahead

Last week’s election results remain unofficial until the Idaho State Board of Canvassers meets Nov. 24 for certification. The board is also scheduled to meet at 1 p.m. Friday to choose counties and precincts for election-result audits.

Those audits will include hand counts and examinations of reported totals. Separately, Bannock County officials reported 333 uncounted ballots, though those ballots would not affect the outcome of any race.