Recount Gives Democrat Courtney Win in Connecticut's 2nd District

HARTFORD, Conn. – Joe Courtney can finally relax.

A roller-coaster recount that stretched nearly a week and uncovered significant vote-counting flaws in at least three communities came to an end Tuesday night, confirming Courtney's general election victory over Rep. Rob Simmons.

Recounts in each of the district's 65 towns gave Courtney the nod, although his election-night margin of 167 votes narrowed to 91, according to results tabulated by town clerks. Nearly 250,000 votes were cast.

"He (Simmons) ran a great campaign," state Republican Party chairman George Gallo said. "He served with distinction in the 2nd district and he can hold his head up very high."

Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz planned a news conference Wednesday morning to announce the results.

Preliminary Election Day returns gave Courtney a slight edge, but the margin fluctuated wildly when towns re-examined their voting machines and envelopes of absentee ballots and began rechecking their original counts.

At one point Monday, Courtney's lead dipped to a low of 66 votes after a 100-vote discrepancy was discovered in Lebanon. Significant recording errors were also discovered in Lyme and Waterford. Minor errors were reported throughout the district, with each candidate picking up or losing one or more votes.