Rod Johnson, the losing candidate for city council in the city's third ward, filed for a recount of all precincts in his ward last Thursday.

According to the official election results posted by Washtenaw County, there were 723 votes cast in the third ward during the primary election earlier this month. The results state that Johnson's opponent, Brian Robb, took the election by a 12-vote, or two percent, margin.

Johnson said he applied for the recount because the election was so close.

"There were some irregularities," Johnson said. "Uncounted absentee ballots that could, in fact, overturn the outcome of the election are out there."

Derrick Jackson is the director of elections for Washtenaw County.

"During our canvass there was a little confusion," Jackson said. "But, they accounted for all the ballots."

Jackson said absentee ballots are duplicated when they arrive to be counted. They duplicated ballots are then read by an optical scanner.

"Some of the absentee ballots, instead of getting duplicated, were spoiled," Jackson said.

Voters may not vote a split-ticket, or vote for candidates from each party, during a primary election. Jackson said this is why the absentee ballots were not counted. If a voter does split his or her ticket, Jackson said, no votes on the ballot get cast.

The recount in the third ward is one of four local recounts the county has to perform, including a tie that occurred on a proposal in Augusta Township. Jackson said the recounts should start within the next two weeks. He said it shouldn't take longer than a day to recount the third ward.

"The state recount takes president [sic]," Jackson said.

Vincent Vernucci, a Republican write-in candidate for the 15th congressional district has already filed for a recount. U.S. Representative John Dingell, D-Mich, currently holds that position, and has for more than 50 years.

Jackson said Vernucci's recount must take place before the local recount can.

"I support this recount," Robb said. "I think it's important that all parties involved feel the election was fair and accurate."

"Robb went on to say, "The results are highly unlikely to change."

Jackson supported Robb's statement when he said, "We haven't had a drastic change in any of the recounts since we've been using the optical scanner."

However, Jackson went on to say, "It's always possible, that's why the recount is there."