SOUTH BEND – The Pacific County Canvassing Board plans to convene Thursday at 9 a.m. in the Auditor’s office, 300 Memorial Ave., South Bend to conduct a hand recount of the results of the Nov. 2 General Election for the office of governor. The meeting will continue until the recounts can be certified.

“I urge both the Republican and Democratic parties, as well as the candidates, to send representatives to observe our hand recount procedure,” County Auditor Pat Gardner said.

Washington state Democrats requested the hand recount after an automated recount showed Attorney General Christine Gregoire losing to former state Sen. Dina Rossi by 42 votes. The party is required to pay 25 cents per vote for this recount.

The meeting of the Canvassing Board is an open public meeting and under applicable provisions of Chapter 42.30 RCW.

These proceedings are open to the public, and candidates (may be accompanied by legal counsel), subject to reasonable guidelines adopted by our canvassing board.