The two candidates finished second and third in a field of six candidates in Tuesday's election. Crowley drew 1,583 votes and Badenoch 1,580. John Engen drew the most votes, 2,591. Only two candidates go on to the general election Nov. 8.
The Badenoch vote came to light during the usually routine canvass of the votes. The Missoula County Canvass Board is made up of three elected officials, chosen for each election. Friday's board members were Missoula County Commissioner Jean Curtiss, who is chairwoman of the commission; Missoula County commissioner Bill Carey; and Clerk of the District Court Shirley Faust.
The vote discovered was an absentee ballot that had not been counted. The board looked in the absentee ballot secrecy envelopes and found the ballot. The ballot was from Precinct 89, which votes at Lowell School.
"It was just an error, a human error," said Missoula County Clerk and Recorder/Treasurer Vickie Zeier.
The ballot also cast votes for John Couch for City Council Ward 2 representative and for Judge Don Louden.
Now that election results are official, Badenoch will ask formally on Monday morning for a recount of the mayor's race. Officials now have 8,044 votes to recount.
Either Crowley or Badenoch could ask for a recount. The request must be made after the canvass makes the results official and then must take place within five days. It's tentatively set for Friday, beginning at 8:30 a.m. It will take more than one day, Zeier estimates.
Both Crowley and Badenoch are continuing to campaign, not wanting to lose time talking to voters should they be the finally elected candidate in the primary. The relationship between them is cordial, Badenoch said.
The discovered vote may be one of more, or it may end up meaning nothing at all in the "improbable little drama" that's unfolding, he said.
"It could come down to a reversal of fortune," he said. "Or it could come down to no change."
The lesson, both Badenoch and Crowley say, is simple: If you think your vote doesn't count, think again.
"I have talked to probably half a dozen people today who told me they were going to vote for me but didn't make it to the polls," Badenoch said.
"You can't say, 'Oh, my vote wouldn't make any difference,' " he said. "People think it doesn't matter if they vote. It does. It matters a whole heck of a lot."
Reporter Ginny Merriam can be reached at 523-5251 or gmerriam@missoulian.com
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