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CBC
7 days ago
- General
- CBC
How a judge handled an 'unprecedented' 1,041 disputed ballots in a tight N.L. recount
A new report explains how a judge dealt with an "unprecedented" number of disputed ballots during a federal election recount in a rural Newfoundland riding recently won by the Conservatives. Justice Garrett Handrigan's report, dated Monday, says the candidates and their teams had flagged 1,041 ballots needing closer examination after the recount ended on May 13 in the riding of Terra Nova-The Peninsulas. "All counsel agreed that this was an unprecedented number and they seemed genuinely perplexed about how to address them appropriately," Handrigan wrote in his decision. Typically, recounts produce far fewer disputed ballots, and lawyers for each candidate are able to argue whether each should be accepted or dismissed, the judge said. "It was evident that we would not be able to do that this time," he wrote. The recount was ordered by Elections Canada after the initial tally following the April 28 federal election showed Liberal candidate Anthony Germain ahead of Conservative Jonathan Rowe by 12 votes. The margin was narrow enough to trigger an automatic judicial recount, led by Handrigan, a provincial Supreme Court judge. The recount began in Marystown in eastern Newfoundland on May 12. The official winner — Rowe, by 12 votes — was announced on Friday, nearly two weeks later. Handrigan said he suggested the lawyers should divide the ballots into categories and then argue whether the votes in each category should be kept or rejected. The lawyers were hesitant at first. But the judge reminded them that while he would consider their arguments, it was ultimately his responsibility to decide which ballots would be counted, his report said. Elections Canada ballots are grey, with white rectangles containing each candidate's name and party. A white circle to the right of each rectangle is where voters are supposed to mark their choice. But on many of the disputed ballots — "maybe as many as half," Handrigan's report said — voters had left their mark in the rectangular box. In some of these so-called "rectangle ballots," voters had also left a mark in the circle. Germain's lawyers argued Handrigan would be disenfranchising those voters by dismissing their ballots. They also argued that the practice of marking ballots in the rectangular boxes "may be unique to Newfoundland and Labrador." However, lawyers for Conservative Jonathan Rowe said Handrigan had to stick with the Canada Elections Act, which says any ballot not marked in the circle next to the name shall be rejected. In the end, Handrigan rejected the so-called "rectangle ballots." A table accompanying his report shows he dismissed about 675 of the disputed ballots. He accepted 167 ballots for Germain and 193 for Rowe — a difference of 26 votes. More than 41,000 people voted in the riding, and 819 ballots were ultimately rejected, according to the Elections Canada website. By comparison, the the riding of Central Newfoundland had the second-highest number of rejected ballots in the province at 492.
CTV News
27-05-2025
- General
- CTV News
How a judge handled an ‘unprecedented' 1,041 disputed ballots in a tight N.L. recount
A person leaves after voting at a polling station in the Vancouver Fraserview-South Burnaby riding on federal election day in Vancouver, on Monday, April 28, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns ST. JOHN'S — A new report explains how a judge dealt with an 'unprecedented' number of disputed ballots — 1,041 — during a federal election recount in a rural Newfoundland riding recently won by the Conservatives. Justice Garrett Handrigan's report, dated Monday, says 'maybe as many as half' of the disputed ballots in the Terra Nova-The Peninsulas riding were marked in the rectangular box containing the candidates' name. His report says lawyers for Liberal candidate Anthony Germain argued Handrigan would be disenfranchising those voters by dismissing their ballots. However, lawyers for Conservative Jonathan Rowe said Handrigan must stick to the Canada Elections Act, which says any ballot not marked in the circle next to the name shall be rejected. Handrigan rejected the so-called 'rectangle ballots,' and a table accompanying his report indicates he ultimately dismissed more than 675 ballots. Elections Canada announced Friday that Rowe was declared the winner after the recount found he had defeated Germain by 12 votes. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 27, 2025. The Canadian Press
CBC
23-05-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Conservative Jonathan Rowe wins Terra Nova-The Peninsulas following recount
Conservative candidate Jonathan Rowe has defeated Liberal Anthony Germain by 12 votes in the Newfoundland and Labrador riding of Terra Nova-The Peninsulas following a judicial recount.
National Post
23-05-2025
- Politics
- National Post
Conservative Jonathan Rowe wins Terra Nova-The Peninsulas after judicial recount
After a recount, the NL district of Terra Nova-The Peninsulas goes to Conservative Jonathan Rowe. Article content Article content Rowe, who originally lost the district, claimed victory over Liberal Anthony Germain on May 23 by 12 votes, 19,605 to 19,593. Article content That was the initial margin of victory Germain initially won by when the votes were counted on April 29. No winner could be declared on Election night, as the special ballots — the mail-in votes for the region — were not counted. Article content Article content That slim finish triggered an automatic recount. That's done if the difference between candidates 'is less than one one-thousandth of the total votes cast,' according to Elections Canada. Article content Article content Article content What is a judicial recount? Article content According to Elections Canada, a judicial recount is a formal means of verifying the count of the votes cast for an electoral district. It is presided over by a Supreme Court judge who sits in the electoral district where the election results are validated. Article content In the case of Terra Nova-The Peninsulas — previously known as the district of Bonavista-Burin-Trinity and representing some 71,000 residents — that courtroom was in Marystown. The judicial recount started on May 12 and took two weeks to complete. According to Elections Canada, the delay in finalizing the results from April 28 was because of water work being done in Marystown. Article content 'Things were delayed as the water was shut off in Marystown this week so the town could replace its chlorination system. As a result, all public buildings were closed, so the recount team had to pause,' wrote a spokesperson in an email. Article content Article content Article content During the recount, there were some 1,000 ballots in dispute. Article content Originally, Germain won the district with a razor-thin 12-vote margin when he finished with a total of 19,704 to Rowe's 19,692. Article content In a statement published on social media, Germain thanked 'incredible volunteers, dedicated supporters and everyone across our community in Terra Nova-The Peninsulas.' Article content
Toronto Star
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Toronto Star
Results from federal election recount in rural Newfoundland riding expected Friday
ST. JOHN'S - Elections Canada says results are expected Friday in a federal election vote recount in central Newfoundland and Labrador. The judicial recount in the Terra Nova—The Peninsulas riding began May 12 in Marystown, N.L. It was triggered automatically when the initial tally after the April 28 election showed Liberal Anthony Germain defeating Conservative Jonathan Rowe by just 12 votes. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW An Elections Canada spokesperson said counting was delayed this week because the town had to shut off its main water line Wednesday and close its public buildings. A post on the municipality's Facebook page that day said the town was updating its chlorination system. More than 41,000 ballots were cast in the Terra Nova—The Peninsulas riding. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 22, 2025.
