By Ashleigh Ebert and By Jordana Anderson Channel 2 News KTUU

6:42 p.m. AKST, November 26, 2012
ANCHORAGE, Alaska—

Only 51 votes distance Republican Bob Bell and incumbent Democrat Hollis French for Senate District J that represents West Anchorage.

Bell said he’s working with his lawyer to officially request a recount in the race and said he hopes to get the paperwork filed Tuesday.

“That's about 1 third of 1 percents or about 3 votes per precinct, so it wouldn't take much of an error to turn that around, particularly if some of the votes were counted wrong,” Bob Bell said.

The Division of Elections certified the election the day after Thanksgiving. Candidates must wait until the certification before asking for a recount.

“If I were in Mr. Bell's shoes I'd probably do the same thing and ask for a recount as well,” Hollis French said. “The difficulty he'll have is the same difficulty any recount requester has in past years that recounts don't change the results very much.”

The other close race that may see recount is House District 34 which is separated by 34 votes.

Incumbent Republican Bill Thomas of Haines trails Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Thomkins of Sitka.

The deadline to request a recount is Wednesday.

“I think it’s the right thing to do make darn sure when it’s this close that everything is as it should be,” Bell said.