County clerks in Oregon will begin a recount on Tuesday of the 1.5 million ballots cast on Measure 92, to require labels on foods made with genetically engineered organisms, according to a schedule posted by Secretary of State Kate Brown. The recall is to be completed by Dec 12. The statewide GMO referendum failed by 806 votes according to final unofficial results from the Nov 4 election.
“Under state law, one elector advocating and one elector opposing Measure 92 will be permitted to observe each counting board during the recount in each county,” says the Portland Oregonian. Recounts are rare in Oregon; none has reversed the election-night tally.
“While Oregon election officials recount ballots in the tight Measure 92 race over labeling genetically modified foods, advocates for GMO labeling are turning their attention to Washington, D.C.,” says Portland Business Journal. A House Energy and Commerce subcommittee has scheduled a Dec 10 hearing on Rep Mike Pompeo’s bill to pre-empt states from requiring labels on GMO food.
A schedule of when counties are to conduct the hand count of ballots is available here.