Final unofficial results in Oregon show the GMO labeling initiative failied by 809 votes out of 1.5 million ballots. The split in votes “is within the margin that would trigger an automatic recount,” said the Secretary of State’s office. The next step is for Secretary of State Kate Brown to certify the results, which could be as early as Dec 1 and would set off a recount that could last for two weeks.
Under Oregon law, a recount is triggered automatically if the margin is less than one-fifth of 1 percent, or 3,000 votes in this case. The tally on Measure 92, to require special labels on food made with genetically modified organisms was 753,473 against and 752,664 in favor. County clerks were required to report election results by Monday.
The vote in Oregon was the closest yet for a statewide GMO vote, with a margin of 0.06 percent. Colorado defeated GMO labeling 2-to-1 on Nov 4. Washington state rejected labeling by2.2 points in 2013 and a California GMO initiative failed by 2.8 points in 2012. Both sides of the labeling fight say the battle will continue in Congress as well as in the states. Vermont is fighting a food industry challenge to its labeling law, which was passed last spring
“Oregon has never had a statewide recount that reversed the initial finding of which way voters had cast more ballots,” said the Portland Oregonian. The most recent recount was in 2008. The Salem Satesman Journal quoted a spokesman for the Yes on 92 campaign as saying it would have volunteers to watch the recount at the 36 county election offices.