Here's what happens if Palm Beach County can't count its votes by Thursday
by Melissa Quinn
| November 12, 2018 04:39 PM
If Florida's Palm Beach County can't recount its votes in three statewide races by Thursday, Florida will likely move on to a final count without it.
All of Florida's 67 counties are re-counting their votes in the races for Senate, governor, and agriculture commissioner, and must report new totals by 3 p.m. Thursday. Palm Beach County has said it won't be able to finish by then.
“I will tell you that the secretary and the legislature and the governor have been extremely aware that with the election equipment we have, the potential of conducting all of these is impossible,†Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections Susan Bucher told the Palm Beach Post. “We have asked the secretary if there was any consideration to extend the deadline and he said ‘no.’â€
If that happens, Palm Beach County will have to use the vote counts submitted to the Florida secretary of state on Saturday, according to Florida law.
Michael Barnett, chairman of the Palm Beach County GOP, told CNN that if the county misses the upcoming deadline, it would be “good news for Republicans because our candidates are ahead."
“If they’re not able to meet the deadline, the secretary of state of Florida may go ahead and certify the elections for our candidates,†Barnett told CNN. “In that case, you can bet your butt there will be lawsuits filed everywhere.â€
Republican Gov. Rick Scott initially claimed victory Tuesday in his race for the Senate seat held by Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson, who refused to concede. The gap between Scott and Nelson, however, narrowed after Election Day as election officials in Broward and Palm Beach counties, two Democratic bastions, continued to count votes.
The margin between Democrat Andrew Gillum and Republican Ron DeSantis in the state's race for governor is also small and falling.
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