Recount in Wash. gov race in home stretch

OLYMPIA, Wash., Nov. 22 (UPI) -- The final ballots in the recount of Washington's neck-and-neck gubernatorial race were tallied Monday following a judge's ruling.

The results of the counting are expected to be announced sometime Wednesday when the results from the Seattle area are certified by King County elections officials.

Democrat Christine Rossi carried King County on Nov. 2, and state Republican officials had tried to obtain a restraining order halting the recount on the grounds ballots rejected by King County's optical ballot readers was being treated differently than the ballots in 14 other counties using punch-card systems.

The Seattle Times said a federal judge Sunday refused to halt the recount, but did not rule on the merits of the GOP argument.

U.S. District Judge Marsha Pechman said there would be no permanent harm in allowing the recount to continue.