Recount begins in Norman in Okla. House race

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) - A manual recount is under way in a race for a state House seat in Norman that was decided by just 18 votes.

A Cleveland County judge ruled Thursday that the ballots will be counted at the courthouse, a process that could take up to seven hours.

Democratic challenger Paula Roberts requested the recount after preliminary results showed she lost to Republican state Rep. Aaron Stiles by 18 votes. Roberts also is alleging there were irregularities in the election, but a judge moved a hearing on that issue until next week.

Cleveland County Election Board Secretary Jim Williams has acknowledged his office made mistakes after a box of 60 absentee ballots was discovered two days after the Nov. 6 election.

(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)