Results expected Friday in local UCP nomination

Officials say residents of the Lakeland area will finally know the results of the United Conservative Party nomination election by Friday. 

The UCP party board is meeting Thursday evening to review eight ballots that were deemed ineligible by the Bonnyville-Cold Lake-St. Paul constituency association during the initial vote counts. 

A thorough recount was conducted on Tuesday, and sources close to the situation say candidate Scott Cyr remains ahead of David Hanson. 

Through party procedures and rules, the recount was needed first to ensure that the difference in the nomination election could be determined by the number of disputed ballots. 

Hanson initiated the appeal after the initial count of votes had Cyr ahead by one, 312 to 311. 

The UCP granted the appeal and agreed last Friday to set the date for the recount to Tuesday, December 20. 

The initial round of voting between the three candidates ahead Hanson with 288 votes, Cyr with 250 votes, and Sawchuk with 185 votes, but that was not enough to reach a majority. 

Due to the process being a preferential ballot, Sawchuk was eliminated, and the candidates who were second on his ballots received their votes. 

That launched Cyr ahead. 

UCP members are expected to receive an email on Friday morning with the results. 

If after the disputed ballots are analyzed and there is a draw, the tiebreaker is a coinflip.