OLYMPIA – The Office of the Secretary of State called for an official statewide manual recount for the office of Commissioner of Public Lands. Thurston County will begin preparing for the recount consolidating ballots by precinct on Friday, August 23, 2024, at 11:00 a.m.  The recount of ballots will begin on Monday, August 26 at 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. and will continue daily until finished. 

Commissioner of Public Lands Recount and Canvassing Board meeting location:  

Ballot Processing Center  

Suite F  
2905 29th Ave SW  
Tumwater, WA 98512  

Two-person counting boards will hand-tally ballots in each of Thurston County’s 287 precincts. Those totals are then checked against machine counts by a separate two-person verification board. This process is codified in WAC 434-264. The Canvassing Board will be meeting Tuesday, September 3^rd at 12:45 p.m. to certify the recount. 

Candidate Dave Upthegrove is leading Sue Kuehl Pederson by 51 votes which is well within recount range. A statewide race triggers a hand recount when the difference between the two candidates is both less than 1,000 votes and less than ¼ of 1% (.0025).  

Candidates and official observers of the two major parties are being notified of the recount and invited to observe the recount.   

For information on how to view the recount, please see our website at ThurstonWAVotes.gov.