Montana House election decided by 2 votes
The Great Falls Tribune reports: The counting of six "provisional" votes Monday in a Lake County legislative race appears to give Republicans a 50-49 edge in the Montana House — but the vote-counting and legal wrangling in this pivotal district is just beginning.
The provisional votes in House District 12 maintained the victory of Constitution Party candidate Rick Jore of Ronan, increasing his margin over Democrat Jeanne Windham of Polson from one vote to two votes.
But the saga of HD12 took another bizarre twist Monday, as Lake County election officials decided to exclude two provisional votes cast by a pair of HD12 residents who were told by election judges last Tuesday to vote in the wrong House district.
Jore defeated Windham in last Tuesday's count 1,556 to 1,555, while Republican Jack Cross of Polson had 1,107 votes. The six provisional votes counted Monday gave three more votes to Jore, two more to Windham and one more for Cross.
State Democratic Party officials said Windham will ask for a recount, which state law doesn't allow until after statewide results are certified Nov. 22. -- Local News - Great Falls Tribune - www.greatfallstribune.com