Mayoral candidate asks for recount

PITTSFIELD, Mass. (AP) - A Pittsfield city councilor who lost his mayoral bid wants a recount.

Daniel Bianchi on Thursday filed a petition requesting a hand recount of the 13,147 votes cast in the Nov. 3 election.

Bianchi lost the election to incumbent James Ruberto by 209 votes, but took home more votes than Ruberto in 10 of Pittsfield's 14 precincts.

Bianchi says in his petition that he has reason to believe that the city's electronic voting machines failed to "correctly register voter intent" and that absentee ballots were miscounted.

City Clerk Linda Tyer tells The Berkshire Eagle the recount will be conducted by hand. No date for the recount was scheduled.