Multnomah County Judge Henry Kantor turned down a request for a temporary restraining order in the ongoing recount of voting on Oregon’s Measure 92 to require labels on food made with genetically modified organisms, said the Portland Oregonian. The statewide initiative lost by 812 votes in the Nov 4 election. Proponents of labeling say in their lawsuit, filed on Monday, that election officials should be required to count 4,600 rejected ballots, potentially changing the outcome of the referendum. A leader of the Yes on 92 campaign said the group was considering whether to appeal the ruling.
An automatic recount of the vote on Measure 92 is complete on three-fourths of the ballots. Only one of the remaining eight counties, Lane, voted for the labeling plan. The recount will be finished i a couple of days.