Hand recount upholds vote on Ripley sheriff

DONIPHAN — The results of a hand recount of the August primary ballots cast in the race for Ripley County sheriff widen Mike Barton’s margin of victory to two votes.

“We started this morning at nine; we finished at about 12:15, and the judge has already entered his order making (the results) official,” said Ripley County Clerk Becky York early Thursday afternoon. “The election recount findings are candidate Mike Barton received 1,309 votes, and candidate Richie Phillips received 1,307 votes.

“Where before we had a one-vote difference. It’s officially now, after recount, a two-vote difference.”

Barton will face no Democratic opponent in November. This will be his second term as sheriff.

“It’s definitely a relief,” Barton said. “Naturally, we always continued focusing on the job and serving the people.

“That never stopped during these 20 days” since the vote totals were certified Aug. 7.

Barton indicated it has been a “stressful 20 days … kind of a little hard to eat and sleep. … I was hoping it would work out for me to stay the winner” after the recount.

The No. 1 concern, Barton said, has been “our calls of service to the people of Ripley County, and that will always continue.”

Barton expressed his gratitude to the citizens for reelecting him as sheriff.

“The sheriff’s office, we will continue to protect and serve and work our very hardest” for the citizens, said Barton.

With the recount now official, “we’re ready to get on the website and get the state’s data and start designing a ballot” for November, York said.

The recount occurred because official totals verified Aug. 7 showed a one-vote difference — Barton, 1,307 votes and Phillips, 1,306 votes.

State statutes say if the count is within 1% of the total votes cast, a recount is automatic, but Phillips still was required to petition the court for the recount.

Presiding Circuit Judge Michael Pritchett ordered a hand recount, and both Barton and Phillips were allowed to select two individuals to assist in the recount.

When the votes were counted Thursday, York said, Barton picked up two votes, while Phillips picked up one vote.

“Although there are instructions for the voters on how to mark their ballot, by darkening in a target, we yet have individuals that will make an X or just a check mark across there,” York explained. “Because of that, sometimes the equipment considers that an undervote (a ballot not counted because of unclear marking by the voter).

“So, that’s how sometimes these things can change.”

Usually, York said, the equipment will pick it up if it’s a “pretty good distinguishing mark … but if someone just does a real faint slash, there is a chance of that not being picked up.”