Branch 10 Judicial Race Headed for a Recount

*Updated at 4:25 pm April 12.

Turns out those outstanding absentee ballots did make a difference in the race for Branch 10 of the Circuit Court.

At the end of the night April 3, attorney Timothy Boyle led incumbent Judge Mark Nielsen by just 61 votes; 16,039 to 15,978. With over 400 absentee ballots yet to be counted - a new law gives absentee voters until 4 pm the Friday after the election to return their ballots - there was every possibility those votes could change the outcome of this election.

Mount Pleasant Village Clerk/Treasurer Veronica Rudychev said she only received a handful of that village's 75 outstanding absentee ballots, and the votes were evenly split between Boyle and Nielsen.

Over in Sturtevant, though, Clerk/Deputy Treasurer Mary Cole said she didn't receive any outstanding ballots, albeit there were only four.

Now, Boyle's lead has shrunk to 57 votes because of the absentee ballots; he picked up seven while Nielsen picked up 11; 16,046 to 15,989. Because the margin of loss is less than one-half of one percent, Nielsen would not have to pick up the tab of a recount if he requests one.

Nielsen hasn't made a decision yet about a recount, but said he would let us know when he does.

Recounts can be pricey, especially during a year of recall elections, already stretching municipal budgets even more. According to information Racine County Clerk Wendy Christensen gave The Journal Times, just the memory packs can cost almost $20,000. Add in the necessary manpower, which Christensen said would probably come from county personnel and not municipalities, and the cost just goes up.