A hand recount of 5,740 votes for Marshall County’s hospital sales tax question began Monday at the county courthouse. The question, which extends a one-half cent sales tax for five years, passed by eight votes during the November 14th canvass. A six-member bipartisan board was tasked with verifying yes, no, and blank votes. Ballots are reviewed individually, with one person reading votes aloud and another verifying, while four members keep tally sheets.

County Clerk Sandy Wilson estimated the recount cost at $2,000, funded by a cashier’s check provided by Nicole Woodard, who requested the recount. Ballots included sealed precinct votes, advance voting and provisional ballots. The recount was scheduled to run from Monday afternoon through today.

According to Kansas law, if the recount reverses the election outcome, the county will absorb the recount cost. The vote currently stands at 2,374-2,366 in favor of extending the sales tax.