The ballots in two close legislative primary elections – one in Brunswick and one in the Sanford region – will be recounted this week to make sure the proper candidates are declared the winners.

On Wednesday afternoon, the Maine Secretary of State’s Office will oversee a recount of the ballots in the Democratic primary in House District 50, which includes part of Brunswick. Jacqueline Sartoris asked for that recount after the election night count had her losing to Ralph Tucker by 10 votes, or 1 percent of the 874 votes cast on June 10.

And on Thursday morning, the Secretary of State’s Office will oversee a recount of the ballots in the Democratic primary in Senate District 33, which includes Sanford, Limerick, Newfield, Parsonsfield, Shapleigh and Waterboro. In the election night count in that race, incumbent Democratic Sen. John Tuttle edged out challenger Rep. Andrea Boland by 20 votes, or 1.2 percent of the 1,662 votes cast.

Each recount was requested by the candidate who trailed on election night. There are no automatic recounts in Maine. Because the margins in both races were less than 2 percent of votes cast, there is no cost to the candidates to conduct a recount.

Each candidate appoints representatives to recount the ballots by hand under the supervision of the Secretary of State’s Office. The recounts are expected to take two to four hours.

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