Measure 92 Recount in Multnomah County is Complete

Multnomah County today finished recounting the votes for Measure 92, the November ballot measure that would require the labeling of genetically modified foods. 

The results in Oregon's largest county will not do much to help the prospects of the measure, which failed in the initial count by 812 votes, well inside the margin that requires an automatic recount.

Figures released late this morning show that a recount increased the number of "yes" votes by 25, while the number of "no" votes remained exactly the same.

County elections director Tim Scott says the recount went faster than expected and generally confirmed the accuracy of the county's original tally.

"I like to believe that we are perfect," Scott says. "This proves we are not quite perfect."

Both sides invested heavily—$8.7 million for the "yes" side and and $20.2 million on the "no" side, so far—and that level of interest continued into the recount.  

"There were 140 people counting and 60 observers in a very tight space," Scott says. "But it went smoothly and everybody behaved themselves."

WWeek 2015