Our View: Be safe, have a recount

A recount will begin shortly in the close race for Montana Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Incumbent Democrat Denise Juneau leads Republican Sandy Welch by 2,231 votes out of more than 468,00,000 votes cast.

Most agree that Juneau lead cannot be overcome. Juneau is and should be acting like she is re-elected.

Some argue that the whole recount process is a waste of state workers and money, although Welch's campaign is forking over more than $100,000 for the recount.

We beg to differ.

Scrimping and saving ought to be a key part of what state government does every day, but having fair and accurate elections where every vote is counted fairly is one thing the government ought never to cut corners on.

Montana's voting system is one of the cleanest in the country. It's that was under Secretary of State Linda McCulloch, a Democrat, and it was that way under former Secretary of State Brad Johnson, a Republican.

While there were some problems in Yellowstone County, there is no indication that there was any kind of voter misconduct or fraud.

Just the same, Welch has every right to insist on the recount.

By accepting the results as they stand, Montanas could be 99 percent sure the right candidate won.

By having the recount, they can be 100 percent sure.

That kind of peace of mind is important in a democracy.