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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.

The votes are in. And the unofficial totals show that Joan Orie Melvin has been elected to the Supreme Court.  The top three vote-getters for the Superior Court vacancies were Judy Olson, Sallie Mundy, and Paula Ott. The returns for the fourth seat are still too close to call, with Anne Lazarus and Robert Colville in a tight race for the seat.  The two Commonwealth Court seats will be filled by Patricia McCullough and Kevin Brobson.  Results can be found at the Department of State’s Election page.  We’ll be posting about the election throughout the day, so check back.