A vote recount overseen by Elections Calgary has affirmed Jeromy Farkas as the upcoming mayor of Calgary. The second-place candidate, Sonya Sharp, initiated the recount process in accordance with the Local Authorities Election Act, commencing at 9:30 a.m. on Monday.
Elections Calgary released updated figures on Tuesday, revealing Farkas secured victory with 91,112 votes against Sharp’s 90,496, a margin of 616 votes. Prior to the recount, Farkas had garnered 91,071 votes while Sharp had 90,490, indicating both candidates gained votes during the recount.
Sharp’s request for a recount stemmed from the narrow victory margin and the challenging circumstances faced by election staff, including long queues, new protocols, and manual ballot counting that extended into the early hours. Sharp emphasized that the request was not a critique of the staff’s efforts but acknowledged the potential for errors under stressful conditions.
The city confirmed a comprehensive recount of all mayoral votes across Calgary. Following the conclusion of the recount, Farkas is scheduled to be inaugurated as Calgary’s next mayor on Wednesday at 6 p.m., alongside the new council members.
Farkas expressed appreciation for his campaign team, Elections Calgary, and volunteer scrutineers for overseeing this crucial aspect of the democratic process. He highlighted the past week’s efforts in forming a cohesive city council team to address the needs of Calgarians. Farkas also extended congratulations to Sharp for her campaign, emphasizing the benefits of her dedication to public service for Calgarians.
CBC News has sought comments from Sharp regarding the election outcome.