MONROE

Union County’s closest race in memory will not be final for another week.

“It’s too close for comfort,” said Werner Thomisser, who edged out incumbent Councilwoman L.A. Smith by only three votes for Weddington’s District 1 Town Council seat. Smith officially filed for a recount Tuesday afternoon, minutes after the official results were announced by the Union County Board of Elections.

“I’m amazed at how close it is,” Smith said.

Two other races in Union County are tight enough for a recount. Joseph Barbara, who lost to incumbent Mayor John Ciaramella 349 to 344, said he will also ask for a recount. “Our campaign fought hard for three-and-a-half months, and the voters responded,” Barbara said. “We aren’t stopping until the last base is touched in the process.”

In Indian Trail, Danny Figueroa has already said he will not challenge the results of the Town Council race he lost to Darlene Luther 656 to 644.

Figueroa and Barbara have until 5 p.m. Thursday to ask for a recount. The final winners will be announced at the Union County Board of Elections at 2 p.m. Nov. 18.

Unofficial results on Election Day showed Thomisser held a 673 to 668 margin of victory over Smith. Official results announced Tuesday showed Smith picked up two additional votes to cut the margin to three votes. Elections administrative assistant Vickie Deese said that was the closest race she could remember. Union County Board of Elections Chairman Bobby Griffin said it was incredible to have three races that fell within the 1 percent margin needed to call for a recount.

Union County Board of Elections Director John Whitley announced that Union County ranks in the top 10 of the state for total registered voters.

As of Nov. 7, Union County had 120,765 registered voters, or 1.98 percent of all North Carolina voters. Less than a decade ago, Union County had only a third that many — 42,423 registered voters — on Oct. 17, 2001. Anson County ranked 74th in the state this year with 16,205 voters.