18 Votes Apart: Support the Recount Effort

Honoring Our Community's Call for a Careful Count

Our race for Blacksburg Mayor came down to just 18 votes. After hearing from many community members who asked us to pursue a recount, we’ve decided to move forward with this process — not because we question the integrity of the election, but because we believe in honoring the voices of those who showed up, paid attention, and asked for verification.

This recount is an opportunity to ensure every vote was counted correctly, learn from the process, and share what we discover with others in our community. Close elections can teach us a lot about how our systems work, and we believe transparency and understanding benefit everyone, no matter the outcome.

While the locality covers the cost of the recount itself, candidates must cover the legal fees associated with filing the request, working through the court process, and having proper legal representation throughout the recount.

The legal retainer for this process is $15,000, which we have already paid, so the recount process can begin without delay. The total cost of legal representation may be lower or higher than this amount based on how involved the court process becomes. This fundraiser will help offset that retainer and cover any remaining legal expenses needed to complete the recount responsibly.

We fully understand that the final result may not change, and that’s okay. This is about doing our due diligence and respecting the community members who called for a careful count.

Any leftover funds after legal expenses are paid will be donated to an organization aligned with community needs.

Thank you for supporting this effort, for caring about your local government, and for believing that every vote matters.

If you'd like to donate by check or cash, please get in touch with us, and we will pick up your donation in person. 

Authorized by Peter Macedo for Mayor