Election panel to try again on Progressive primary

MONTPELIER (AP) - Officials will try again to certify the results of the Aug. 28 Progressive gubernatorial primary in Vermont.

The Vermont elections canvassing committee will meet at 4 p.m. Thursday comes after Secretary of State Jim Condos agreed Wednesday it appeared that write-in candidate Annette Smith had been short-changed on votes counted in at least one town.

An official tally released Tuesday showed Smith losing by 17 votes to longtime Progressive Party leader Martha Abbott. That would have left her just outside the 2 percent margin within which she could ask for a recount.

Now Condos says the new tally - to be certified on Thursday - is expected to put Smith within the 2 percent margin. Smith says if that happens, she'll ask for a recount.