Incumbent candidate Nancy Oates said she plans to request a recount in the Chapel Hill Town Council race, which she lost to UNC senior Tai Huynh by 24 votes.
The Orange County Board of Elections certified the results of the Nov. 5 municipal and school board elections Friday. Rachel Raper, director of the Orange County Board of Elections, said turnout for the election was around 18 percent — slightly higher than usual for a municipal election — and there were very few irregularities in the election process.
Seven candidates ran for four seats in the Chapel Hill Town Council race. Incumbents Jessica Anderson and Michael Parker retained their seats while newcomer Amy Ryan won a seat on the council for the first time.
But the status of the fourth seat was left in question on election night when three candidates were nearly tied at around 13 percent of the vote.
"There is a very tight race between the fourth and fifth place candidates for Chapel Hill Town Council,” said Jamie Cox, chair of the Orange County Board of Election, at the meeting.
As it stands, Tai Huynh is in fourth with 3,960 votes, Oates is in fifth with 3,936 votes and Sue Hunter is in sixth with 3,926.
Non-prevailing candidates within one percent of a winning candidate may request a recount after the results have been certified.
After the canvas meeting, Hunter said she had no plans to request a recount.
“I’m very excited for Tai and I congratulate him on his win," she said.
