The city’s Board of Election Commissioners will begin the recount process of some 66,000 ballots from the Nov. 5 at-large city council election on Thurs., Dec. 5. To date, five votes separate the fourth and fifth place finishers, Julia Mejia and Alejandra St. Guillen, according to unofficial election results.

Both candidates have submitted the qualifying number of signatures for all 22 wards. The recount will begin at 9 a.m. and continue on the next day with the opening of ballot boxes and packing of ballots into blocks of 50.

The actual recounting of votes cast will begin at 9 a.m. on Sat., Dec. 7, continuing through Dec. 9 as needed. 

Each candidate will receive written notice with the time, date, and location of the recount, as well as the number of “agents” and observers each will be entitled to.

The process will include a hand count of all ballots aimed to ensure that each card is individually examined and certified.