Liberals set to reclaim Ripon seat by just 15 votes
LIBERAL candidate for Ripon Louise Staley is set to be returned after taking the seat from the Labor Party in 2014.
Two weeks following state election night, Staley looks to have won the seat by just 15 votes from Labor candidate Sarah De Santis.
As recently as Tuesday evening De Santis looked to have won the seat.
The Ripon District recount preference distribution is now complete, with the Liberal candidate, Louise Staley, successful by 15 votes https://t.co/C4Cz6ggZxG#VicVotes#VictoriaVotes A declaration is being arranged for Monday 10 December.
— VEC (@electionsvic) December 8, 2018
Wednesday afternoon the Victorian Electoral Commission announced it would conduct further scrutiny of first preference and informal ballot papers for the district of Ripon after De Santis came out on top by just 31 votes.
With the latest recount, Staley has claimed 20,035 votes after distribution, with De Santis’ votes totalling 20,020.
The win will give the Liberal Party four seats held by women in the lower house.
Source: VEC website
- with The Age