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Secretary of the Commonwealth Pedro Cortes announced today that the first ever statewide vote recount will be held to determine the winners for Superior Court. According to a press release available on Capitol Wire:

Act 97 of 2004 provides that any statewide race or ballot question where the margin of victory was less than one-half of 1 percent of the total number of votes cast for that office or ballot question would trigger a recount in all 67 counties. The act also allows affected candidates to submit a written request to opt out of a recount.

This affects three candidates — Democrats Robert Coleville and Kevin McCarthy and Republican Templeton Smith, Jr., all of whom are trailing Democrat Anne Lazarus within the margin of voters that triggers the recount.  Coleville and McCarthy voluntarily opted out of the recount, but Smith did not do so, even after being granted an extension of time in which to consider whether to opt out.

The recount will begin November 18 and must be completed by November 25, with results to be submitted by November 30. Secretary Cortes estimates that the recount may cost up to $1.3 million.

Following the May primary elections, Superior Court Judge Maureen Lally-Green announced her retirement and created a fourth vacancy to be filled during the fall general election.  The Republican and Democratic parties are poised to meet later this month to select candidates to join their existing slates.

The Legal Intelligencer (subscription required) reports that there are nine contenders, several of whom are sitting judges.  On the Republican side, Chester County Common Pleas President Judge Paula Ott, Philadelphia Common Pleas Judge Paul Panepinto, Montgomery County Common Pleas Judge Arthur Tilson, Monroe County Common Pleas Judge  Margherita Worthington, and Westmoreland County attorney Harry Smail, Jr. are seeking the nomination.  On the Democratic side, Philadelphia Common Pleas Judges James Murray Lynn, Paula Patrick and  M. Teresa Sarmina and Washington County President Judge Debbie O’Dell-Seneca are seeking the nomination.

Pennsylvania has a busy election season shaping up.  Voters will be filling one vacancy on the Supreme Court, four on the Superior Court and two on the Commonwealth Court.  Learn more about the upcoming elections on PMC’s current election page.