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Mo. bill lowers threshold for election recounts

(via Flickr/ Daniel Morrison)

Did your favorite Missouri candidate lose a close election?

Well, a southern Missouri lawmaker wants to make it harder for close-election losers to get an automatic recount.

Currently, candidates for public office in Missouri can request a recount if they lose by less than 1 percent point of the total vote.

Legislation by House Republican Tony Dugger, of Hartville, would lower the threshold to one-half of 1 percent.

Dugger is the chairman of the House Elections Committee and a former county clerk.

Last year, a Democratic state Senate candidate requested a recount after losing a race by less than 0.3 percent. The recount narrowed the margin but confirmed the victory of Republican John Lamping.