Delaware Rep. Shupe requests audit of Primary Election results

DELAWARE – State Representative Bryan Shupe has asked the Delaware Commissioner of Elections to audit this week’s Primary Election results.

In the race for the Republican nominee in the 36th District, Rep. Shupe defeated his opponent Patrick Smith by a total of 12 votes, out of 2,302 cast ballots. Under Delaware election law, an automatic recount is conducted if the margin of victory is under one half of one percent. The margin in this race was 0.521%, just over the legal threshold.

“I have a long history of supporting proposals to improve governmental accountability and increase transparency,” Rep. Shupe said. “Today, I learned from the Delaware Department of Elections that they could not conduct an audit unless a sitting state legislator requested it. I immediately made that request. Our citizens need to be confident in the integrity and accuracy of these results. Ever since the primary results were tallied, I have repeatedly and publicly expressed my support for an audit. I’ve made good on those statements with today’s action.”

He also said that if his primary victory is confirmed and he is fortunate enough to win again in November, he plans to introduce legislation that will raise the automatic recount margin-of-victory threshold.