Framingham District 3 City Council Recount Ends in Tie

First posted at 12:37 p.m. Last updated at 1:48 p.m.

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FRAMINGHAM – There is still no winner in the District 3 City Council race in the City of Framingham, two weeks after the election.

The recount of votes in the City of Framingham District 3 City Council race ended in a tie this afternoon, November 16, at 997 to 997 for each of the two candidates.

SIFOC Vice Chair Mary Kate Feeney, who requested the recount, gained two votes during the 3-plus hour recount process at Nevins Hall in the Memorial Building.

The unofficial results for Feeney was 995 votes on election day, November 2.

Feeney gained two votes that were not read by the machines.

The voters did not robustly fill in the entire circle but today it was determined that the intention of the voters was for Feeney on those two ballots.

That decisions at the recount table were challenged and it went to the Board of Registrars for a vote.

That vote was 1-1-1 with City Clerk Lisa Ferguson abstaining. It the Registers vote inconclusive, the vote at the table stood.

During the recount, current City Council Vice Chair Adam Steiner’s vote tally stayed the same at 997.

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After the recount today, both candidates had 997 votes.

City Clerk Lisa Ferguson said that the tie meant there was a “failure to elect.”

There were 131 blanks and 3 write-in votes.

The lawyer for Steiner, during closing remarks at the recount, was challenging one ballot still.

City Clerk Ferguson said “this is the result until a court decides otherwise.”

The District 3 City Council race could now go to the courts, to decide the race.

If it goes to the courts, it will likely be Massachusetts Superior Court. Steiner or Feeney could challenge the result in court.

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If not settled at the court level, there will be a special election to elect a City Councilor from District 3 for 2 years.

It is unclear if the special election for District 3 would be just Feeney & Steiner, or if other individuals will be allowed to be on that ballot.

The timeline for this process is still unknown.

Steiner’s current term ends on December 31, 2021.

Steiner, who wore a Framingham North Spartans hooded sweatshirt and jeans, attended the recount.

Feeney did not attend the recount, as a family member had tested positive for COVID, said her attorney.

SOURCE reached out to both Steiner and Feeney for a statement. None has been received as of this posting.

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