Two park board races in both Berthold and Surrey will be recounted due to the closeness of the write-in results. No one filed in either community.

A measure on the Berthold ballot to eliminate the park board failed, so now board seats need to be filled. Several individuals each received a single write-in vote in each of the two races. Between the two races, the park board has openings for five members.

In Surrey, voters filled two four-year terms but a write-in tie exists for the third open seat with two candidates each receiving 6 votes. For the two-year unexpired term, two individuals finished with 3 votes and four others each received 2 votes.

In Ryder, two park board candidates on the ballot were elected, but a third seat needed to be filled. Two candidates each received a write-in vote.

Ward County Auditor Marisa Haman said her office will be assembling a team of up to 10 people to review the ballots prior to final review and verification by the recount board. Ward County Commissioner John Fjeldahl, State’s Attorney Roza Larson and Recorder Kristin Kowalczyk serve on the recount board.

Should tie votes remain among eligible write-in candidates following the recount, the results will be determined by the local park districts through eliminating those who don’t want to serve and coin tosses.

The canvassing board counted 35 absentee and set-aside ballots, bringing voter turnout in Ward County to 8,426. Ballots are set aside when a voter appears without proper identification, and can be counted when that identification later is provided to the auditor’s office. Official election results changed no outcomes in any of the races.

The Ward County Commission race final totals were: Shelly Weppler, 5,300; Jedidiah Rader, 4,622; Ron Merritt, 1,462; Jim Rostad, 898; Miranda Schuler, 489; Ashley Leavitt Gulke, 332; and Zachary Raknerud, 217. The top six will advance to the November general election.

The canvassing board debated counting absentee ballots that arrived postage due, ultimately rejecting those ballots in a split vote. Ballots mailed without postage are delivered at the county’s expense. Haman said some counties send out requested absentee ballots with postage prepaid, but Ward County does not.

Also, the board noted the potential for ballots to be rejected due to mechanisms associated with postal delivery. Although the board accepted mailed ballots in most cases, it was noted a voter using postal delivery near the election might want to request to witness the date stamping to ensure a timely and legible stamp.