CASPER, Wyo. (AP) — As children from the Boys and Girls Clubs get a guided tour of the elections office,  Natrona County officials are recounting the primary election ballots because two Republican candidates for county commissioner finished less than 1 percentage point apart.

A recount is mandatory under state law, even though Todd Murphy, the candidate who fell short, offered to concede to avoid the expense.

The top three finishers in the Republican primary advance to the general election ballot.

Robert Hendry and John Lawson finished in the top two spots. Steve Schlager was third, ahead of Murphy by 78 votes or 0.3 percentage point.

Natrona County Clerk Renea Vitto says it will be a countywide recount because all the ballots have to be processed anyway.

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