TULSA — After a manual recount of 55,611 ballots cast in the August 27th mayoral election in Tulsa the results will stand as determined on election night, with State Rep. Monroe Nichols and County Commissioner Karen Keith advancing to a runoff in November.

In fact, according to Tulsa County Election Board Secretary Gwen Freeman, of the 36 ballots determined to be “over votes,” 14 would have gone to Brent VanNorman, 13 to Karen Keith, and 9 to Monroe Nichols.

The last box of ballots was checked and the process completed at roughly 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, according to election board officials who notified KRMG.

The third-place finisher, VanNorman, wanted a recount after finishing just over 400 votes behind Keith in the August election.

Freeman tells KRMG that the $12,000 his campaign was required to pay for the recount did not come close to covering the actual cost.

That figure is still being calculated, as employee hours and other costs have not been finalized, but it’s expected to come in somewhere around $50,000 to $60,000, which will be covered by taxpayers.

It is believed to have been the largest recount in state history, and as expected, demonstrated again that the state’s system of recording and counting votes is extremely accurate.

An overvote total of 36 ballots represents just under 0.065% of the total number cast.

In a recount of the District 3 city council race, six overvotes were discovered - three for each candidate, which left the margin between them the same.

Election Board Secretary Gwen Freeman told KRMG Monday that the number of ballots challenged by watchers during the recount of the mayoral race was “minimal.”

The board certified the results early Tuesday afternoon.