Jasper County recount results approved, tightening Iowa's 2nd Congressional District race
Election officials in Jasper County voted Wednesday to accept the results of a recount in Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District race between Democrat Rita Hart and Republican Mariannette Miller-Meeks.
Absentee ballots in the county received a second machine recount after officials determined a machine used in Sunday’s recount did not work properly.
Hart’s votes remained the same following the second recount. Miller-Meeks lost one vote.
Clinton County has yet to finish its recount. The race needs to be certified by Monday.
The Associated Press reports that Hart cut Miller-Meeks' lead to eight votes out of more than 394,400 cast, with recount boards in all but one of the district's 24 counties reporting the results of their recounts.
The race is the closest in the nation, and both sides expect it to tighten further as Scott, Jasper and Clinton counties finish their recounts in the coming days.
A single-digit victory for either candidate is possible as is a tie, which would result in a winner’s name drawn from a receptacle such as a hat or bowl.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.