"Mano a mano" in Washington State

Some information about hand recounts in Washington State for the Governor's race that never seems to end.

Because the Republican majority is 42, if I've understood the regulations correctly, there are basically three options.

1) There is a recount by hand of the entire state, on the basis that the majority is less than 150 votes or 0.25 per cent.

2) The Democrat candidate concedes.

3) The two leading candidates have the option of agreeing a different method (for example selected counties only). If a recount in some counties leads to the result being overturned (i.e. the Democrat candidate takes the lead), then the whole state has to be recounted by hand.

At present the Washington Secretary of State's office (responsible for certifying election returns) believes that a definite result can be announced on December 2.