citing the accuracy of the recount

The results of last week’s Republican runoff for Arkansas secretary of state remained unchanged Tuesday after a fifth county held a recount.

Saline County officials said its recount upheld state Sen. Kim Hammer’s victory in the county over Bryan Norris in last week’s runoff election. Saline was among several counties where Norris requested recounts after losing the runoff statewide by fewer than 1,000 votes.

Baxter, Grant, Washington and White counties have also reported no change in results from their recounts. Miller County is scheduled to hold its recount on Thursday.

Hammer won Saline County, his home county, by about 2,000 votes in last week’s primary runoff.

A team of ten poll workers hand counted a total of 6,970 ballots in under four hours, according to a release from Saline County.

Under Arkansas law, the cost of the recount must be paid by the candidate requesting it and the candidate is refunded if the outcome of the election is altered. The amount charged cannot exceed either 25 cents per vote cast in the precincts where the recount is requested or $2,500 for the entire county, whichever is less.

Norris was charged $1,017 for the recount, Saline County officials said last week.