Has this ever happened before- No recount on a 2 vote margin

[doheochai]

Clare Daly of the Socialist Party has just been eliminated in Dublin North following the refusal of the returning officer to grant a request for a recount.

This happened despite the fact that she was only 2 votes behind Brendan Ryan of the LP. Ryan had been granted a re-check when he was 11 votes behind Daly at the end of the 7th count.

In twenty five years of participating and watching elections I cannot remember a candidate with as few as 2 votes of a difference ever being refused a recount or a candidate who was leapforgged following a re-count being refused a request for a second recount.

[Catalpa]

Clare Daly of the Socialist Party has just been eliminated in Dublin North following the refusal of the returning officer to grant a request for a recount.

This happened despite the fact that she was only 2 votes behind Brendan Ryan of the LP. Ryan had been granted a re-check when he was 11 votes behind Daly at the end of the 7th count.

In twenty five years of participating and watching elections I cannot remember a candidate with as few as 2 votes of a difference ever being refused a recount or a candidate who was leapforgged following a re-count being refused a request for a second recount.

And if she came in on another count say 4 votes ahead then Ryan would want yet another re count....

Anyway it would also have spoiled my prediction that no SP candidate would be Elected.

[merle haggard]

I believe there was precedent set in Florida during the gore cmapign

[yknaa]

It is interesting oke - Clare Daly didn't feel it important enough to remain in the hall yesterday for any length of time and again a 'no show' today till the count was examined. If she was interested I would have thought she would have been there to observe each vote as they were checked. I didn't see any SP tallymen yesterday (not too say they weren't there though)
The R/O must feel that the votes were checked so closley this time that it is pointless to have a recount. It will be really interesting to see where her votes go. Ryan should do well and if O'Leary goes he might do ok on the 'gepgraphical' vote. However O'Brien shouls hoover up most of 'em. This could well be a 5 seater next time out so it is important for Labour to put in a good performance.

[doheochai]

First of all there were SP tallymen at the count yesterday - I was actually involved in the SP tally and we participated fully in the tally with the other parties.

As regards Clare Daly's so-called lack of presence - After a long and exhausting campaign she was spending some time with her daughter - something that I believe was worthwhile and appropriate.

It was clear from early in the count that the SP was not going to win a seat and would anyone deny her an opportunity to spent some time with her family before going back to work next week. She was at the count centre when it was necessary to be there. For most of yesterday there were very few candidates actually at the count. Personally I only saw two all day.

[qtman]

Clare Daly of the Socialist Party has just been eliminated in Dublin North following the refusal of the returning officer to grant a request for a recount.

This happened despite the fact that she was only 2 votes behind Brendan Ryan of the LP. Ryan had been granted a re-check when he was 11 votes behind Daly at the end of the 7th count.

In twenty five years of participating and watching elections I cannot remember a candidate with as few as 2 votes of a difference ever being refused a recount or a candidate who was leapforgged following a re-count being refused a request for a second recount.

But aren't both of them out of the running for a seat?

What the point in recount if it won't make a difference to the outcome?

[KeithM]

What the point in recount if it won't make a difference to the outcome?

Exactly, and both will have their expenses paid, so it's not an issue of ay consequence.

I remember when people were telling us that the left would take three seats here (GP, Lab, SP) and I thought it was nonsense. However even I didn't see the wip-out of the left and the beyond extremeleft.

[MacEHaVelly]

Lads, what is the protocall for recounts? Is there a magic number of votes that triggers an Automatic recount, or what? Surely it can't merely be down to the discretion of the returning officer? Confused...

[Gypsy]

I don't understand the procedure either but if they find 43 votes that should have been marked spoilt and change the quota back to first count surely that should trigger a recount anyway.
What's the consequence? IMHO the integrity of the count. Otherwise bring back Cullen's machines.

[Coles]

Any more information on this? It seems very strange... a two vote difference is tiny. This could become a very serious issue...