Election officials in Morehead, Kentucky, completed a thorough recanvass Thursday and verified that the original count from the Nov. 3 general election was accurate. The recount confirmed that Trent received 574 votes and write‑in candidate Edna Schack earned 573, leaving the mayoral race decided by a single vote.
Attorney statements on the tight result
“As of right now, they have affirmed what the vote total was on election night,” said Sarah Cameron, an attorney representing Trent. “This is unprecedented. Of course, this is a write‑in candidate.” Cameron emphasized that the focus should remain on following Kentucky election law to provide Morehead residents with a clear and lawful outcome.
Write‑in ballot dispute
Lincoln Caudill, representing Schack, highlighted two write‑in ballots that were excluded because they listed only the candidate’s first name. “There are two votes that were not counted for Edna Schack,” Caudill explained. “They were written in, and they just included her first name only.” Under Kentucky regulations, a valid write‑in vote must contain the candidate’s last name. Caudill indicated his team will argue that voter intent was evident and plans to file both a recount action and a contestation of the election.
Clerical error raises additional questions
Rowan County Attorney Cecil Watkins disclosed a separate clerical mistake that placed a non‑resident’s driver’s license into a Morehead precinct, allowing that individual to cast a ballot in the mayoral race. A judge will later rule on the impact of that error on the final result.
Next steps for the candidates and the city
Both legal teams are preparing to pursue further action, meaning the winner may not be officially declared for several weeks. Cameron stressed the importance of adhering to state election law, stating, “On behalf of the citizens of Morehead, we want to give them an answer that is very certain, but we need to make sure we’re following the law.”
The narrow margin underscores the significance of every vote in local elections and serves as a reminder to Morehead voters to verify their registration status and ballot choices in future contests.
Background on Morehead’s mayoral race
The race featured incumbent mayor Trent seeking re‑election against Edna Schack, who entered the contest as a write‑in candidate. Write‑in campaigns are rare in municipal elections, and the close result has drawn attention from state election officials and local media alike.
Morehead residents are encouraged to stay informed about upcoming court filings and any additional recanvass efforts. The city’s election board will continue to provide updates as the legal process unfolds.
Original reporting: LEX18 Lexington (local) — read the source article.
