By Fallan Patterson
Staff Writer

John Quiñones, the Republican candidate and incumbent for Osceola County Commission district 2, has won his second term over opponent Armando Ramirez by just 50 votes after provisional votes were counted and analyzed Nov. 5 by the Supervisor of Elections Office.

Florida law requires an automatic recount of races within a half of 1 percent difference. With the unofficial final tallies, released by the Elections Office Monday, Quiñones received 4,273 votes, or 50.29 percent, and Ramirez earned 4,223 votes, or 49.71 percent. This is a difference of 0.58 percent.

Before the provisional ballots were counted, Quiñones and Ramirez had just 56 votes between them, a difference of 0.66 percent. Based on this margin, Ramirez had requested a recount Nov. 3.

As of Monday afternoon, Ramirez was working with a team of attorneys who specialize in election law to bring his case to the U.S. District Courts.

“We are sure we will prevail. We want to stop the certification this Friday and our goal is to get a recount regardless of the percentage difference,” he said. “I don't have much faith in the election system in the way it has been conducted in Osceola County.”

Quiñones was unavailable for comment Monday afternoon.

According to Amber Smith, public information officer for the Elections Office, there were 82 provisional ballots, 22 of which were not accepted and one, as of Monday afternoon, is pending further research. Eleven provisional ballots were counted toward district 2 — two of which were not accepted by the Canvassing Board. Of those remaining nine ballots, Quiñones received two and Ramirez received seven.

Votes are deemed provisional if the voter is missing pertinent information at the polling location. For example, if a voter forgets his or her photo identification with a signature, they can vote but the ballot is placed in a special purple envelope and must be verified by the Canvassing Board at the Elections Office.