Conecuh recount taps Brock

Following an official recount Friday of ballots cast in the sheriff's race in Conecuh County, incumbent Democratic Sheriff Randy Brock was declared the winner over Republican challenger Mike Blackmon by two votes – 2,228 for Brock and 2,226 for Blackmon.

Blackmon confirmed Tuesday morning that the Alabama Republican Party plans to file a contest heard by Circuit Judge Jack Weaver unless Judge Weaver recuses himself from the matter.

Following the Nov. 8 General Election Brock had 2,224 votes to Blackmon's 2,223. The Tuesday after the election, officials opened six provisional ballots, three were discarded as not being registered voters in Conecuh County. The three that were counted put the race in a dead heat with Brock having 2,225 votes and Blackmon having 2,225 votes. At that point a recount was ordered and if the vote remained a tie there would be a flip of a coin to decide the winner.

Friday, eight experienced poll workers, along with officials from the Alabama Secretary of State's Office, Republican and Democratic parties, and the Conecuh County Election Committee conducted an official recount of the race for sheriff of Conecuh County. The process began with a court order from Judge Weaver to open the sealed boxes containing the ballots from the Nov. 8 General Election. The recount was overseen by the election committee made up of Probate Judge Steve Flemming, Circuit Clerk David Jackson, and Conecuh County Commission Chairman Leonard Millender.

Each precinct's box was opened by poll workers and recounted to verify the count of the race between Incumbent Brock and challenger Blackmon.

When the official recount was concluded after three and a half hours Friday, Brock had a total of 2,228 votes and Blackmon had 2,226 votes. Officials said the additional four votes were the result of ballots that did not register during the initial ballot count during the General Election.

These ballots were rejected by the voting machines during the recount. The ballots were immediately given to the election committee for verification of the ballot. The committee examined the ballots and agreed as a group whether the ballots would be counted.

Once the recount was confirmed and the totals verified, the Election Committee certified the results and declared Brock the winner of the election.