A three-judge panel on Wednesday officially declared Democrat Nancy Guy the winner of the 83rd House of Delegates race, with the final margin of victory standing at 40 votes over Republican incumbent Chris Stolle.
On election night, the former Virginia Beach school board member led Stolle by just 27 votes.
Stolle, who has served the district for the past 10 years, asked for a recount. It was held last week and ended with Guy collecting another 14 votes, giving her an edge of 41.
On Wednesday, the judges were presented with three ballots that remained in dispute and needed to be ruled on before the results could be finalized.
In one, the voter had made a circle in a blank space between the names of the two candidates. The judges decided the voter’s intent wasn’t clear, so they tossed it.
Another ballot had a tiny pen mark in the middle of the bubble next to Stolle’s name, while all the other bubbles on the ballot were completely filled in. The judges again determined that the intent wasn’t clear and dismissed it.
But one ballot a circle filled in on top of the “C” in Stolle’s first name, rather than in the bubble next to it. The judges decided it was meant for Stolle.
Neither candidate attended the court hearing. Stolle, an obstetrician/gynecologist, called Guy on Friday to concede the race and congratulate her after the recount was completed. The district covers parts of Virginia Beach and Norfolk.
