Primary election provisional votes counted

Provisional votes from last week’s primary election were counted Tuesday, Election Administrator Denise Hernandez confirmed.

Of the 193 votes examined by the Ballot Board, 39 were deemed to be valid.

The provisional votes were most important in the Republican primary for Sheriff, where Botie Hillhouse was leading Billy Jack Valentine by just 68 votes.

After the valid provisional votes were counted, the difference between the two men was cut to 61, with Hillhouse at 6,862 and Valentine at 6,801.

Valentine has officially asked for a recount. Hernandez said she expected the recount to take place on Saturday.