(INDIANAPOLIS) - Indiana election officials are preparing for possible recounts and election challenges following several razor-thin primary election results across the state.
The Indiana Secretary of State's office says Friday marks the first day candidates can officially file recount or contest petitions after county election boards complete certification of primary election results.
Certification happens after counties finish counting overseas and military absentee ballots and review provisional ballots.
Candidates for federal, state, and legislative offices -- along with certain political party officials -- can file recount or contest petitions with the Indiana Election Division between Friday and May 22nd.
For county and local races, recount requests are filed through county circuit court clerks and handled by county election boards.
If a recount petition is filed in a federal, state, or legislative race, Indiana Secretary of State Diego Morales will convene the Indiana Recount Commission to oversee the process. State officials say those proceedings are public meetings and will be webcast online.
One of the races drawing attention is the Republican primary for Indiana State Senate District 23. As of Monday, incumbent State Senator Spencer Deery led challenger Paula Copenhaver by just three votes, according to the Fountain County Clerk's Office. Both candidates declared victory on primary election night.
Another potential challenge could emerge in Henry County after election officials said an electronic ballot error allowed some voters outside Knightstown to cast ballots in two town races.
Officials said the issue only affected the Knightstown clerk-treasurer and town council races. The clerk-treasurer race was reportedly decided by three votes.
Henry County Republican Party Chairman Jon Madison previously said candidates would likely need to pursue legal action to request a recount or formally contest the election results.
Because of what officials called the likelihood of recount petitions in one or more state senate races, Morales has scheduled an organizational meeting of the Indiana Recount Commission for Friday morning at the Indiana Government Center in Indianapolis.