Decision upcoming on election recount

A state committee will decide this week whether a recount will be allowed in a state senate race that represents part of Johnson County.

A recount commission, made up of attorneys, representatives from both the Democratic and Republican parties and Indiana Secretary of State Connie Lawson, will meet Thursday at 10 a.m. to decide whether a recount should be done in the race between two Democrats for State Senate District 36.

Candidate Jesse Kharbanda asked for a recount last week, because he and competitor Sean Gorman are separated by just 37 votes, with Gorman in a slight lead.

District 36 includes northern Johnson County and southern Marion County. More than 800 Johnson County residents voted for either Kharbanda or Gorman, but more than 91 percent of the votes came from Marion County residents.

If the recount commission approves a recount, officials have until mid-August to recount the votes and name the victor, said Angie Nussmeyer, co-director of the Indiana Election Division. Whoever wins will face the Republican nominee, former Perry Township trustee Jack Sandlin, in the general election this fall.