AUBURN — A recount of the results of Auburn’s mayoral race will take place Tuesday, Nov. 21, after the initial Election Day tally showed Jason Levesque beating Adam Lee by just six votes.

Lee formally requested the recount last Thursday, stating that many of his supporters had urged him to make the request after such a close election. 

Since then, Lee said he has been working with the City Clerk’s Office and Levesque to schedule the recount. Both candidates must convene a few volunteers to hand-count the ballots, which will take place at 9 a.m. in the Council Chamber at Auburn Hall.

City Clerk Sue Clements-Dallaire said Tuesday that the last recount conducted in Auburn in 2014 took about four hours to complete. However, that race, for a Lewiston-Auburn Joint Charter Commission seat, only had roughly 2,000 total votes.

Last Tuesday, results showed Lee lost to Levesque, 3,623 to 3,617. Among the 7,693 total ballots cast, there were also 49 write-ins and 404 blanks. Hand-counting that number of ballots could stretch well into the afternoon.

In announcing the recount request last week, Lee said of his supporters, “Their voices are unanimous, the margin of six votes in an election where 7,693 voted is too small to not require some further inspection. Accordingly, I have requested a recount.”

He continued, “If the result is that Jason is the winner, I will do everything he asks me to in order to ensure that he is successful, and that Auburn is prosperous. As I’ve said, my commitment to service is unconditional. No matter the outcome of the recount or in what capacity I can contribute, I’m ready to serve.”

On Tuesday, the City Clerk’s Office will be closed from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. to conduct the recount. For questions, call 207-333-6600. 

arice@sunjournal.com 

Auburn Ward Clerk Rob Gardner separates state from local ballots at Auburn Hall on Nov. 7 as the task of tallying the results gets underway. Auburn will recount the mayoral votes Nov. 21. The initial Election Day tally showed Jason Levesque beating Adam Lee by just six votes. (Sun Journal file photo)