Concerns Arise With Machine Recount

The race for a seat on the Palm Beach County Judicial Bench is as thin as a judges robe.  Less than 20 votes separate incumbent Richard Wennet and challenger William Abramson. And starting Friday night the Palm Beach County canvassing board is watching over the county's first ever machine recounty.

The vote tabulation center is humming. Elections workers are stuffing machines with the 90,000 ballots that need to be recounted. Also looking on, both candidates, lawyers, and political operatives. After the campaign...and after the election...this is how a seat on Palm Beach County's circuit court bench is being decided.

"I have every confidence that there will not be a problem and they will do the right thing for the people to whom they serve", says Wennet

"Oh this has been very exciting, seeing the process in action. Again, everybody's doing the right thing. The laws being followed the process is working", says Abramson.

Today state elections officials order this machine recount after initial vote tallies showed Abramson leads Wennet by less than 20 votes out of 90-thousand. And even though the machines seem to be moving at a rapid pace, there is concern about meeting the deadline at 3pm sunday.

"Tooth paste, tooth brush, a razor hand lotion", lists canvassing board member Judge Barry Cohen. Several of the canvassing board members packed bags to ride out the weekend. But all kidding aside, some people say this recount could have an impact beyond just this election for a county trial judge.

If the recount confirms this race it really that tight, a hand recount could be next. And one of the lawyers representing Wennet says we might all have cause for concern if there are more tight races this November.

"I'm concerned that this could be as bad, if not worse than the hanging chad situation. If it's not done right", says Gerald Richman, a lawyer representing incumbent Richard Wennet.