HAMTRAMCK – The Wayne County Board of Canvassers voted on Tuesday to authorize a recount in the Hamtramck mayoral election, at the request of City Councilman Muhith Mahmood, who lost by just six votes.

The recount is scheduled for Tuesday, December 2, beginning at 9 a.m. at the Wayne County Clerk’s Office. Five teams of two people each will conduct a hand recount — each team reviewing one precinct in the morning and a second in the afternoon — covering all 10 in-person and absentee voting precincts in the city.

Once completed, results will be forwarded to the Michigan Board of State Canvassers for final certification.

A razor-thin race with sharply contrasting political profiles

Although the election is officially non-partisan, the two candidates differ notably in political ideology and background:

• Muhith Mahmood, a Bangladeshi American, has a history in union leadership and is backed by labor advocacy networks. His legal counsel previously served as chair of the Michigan Democratic Party, signaling support from progressive circles.

• Adam Alharbi, an American Yemeni, is a businessman and a federal engineer, leaning more centrist and business-focused on city policy issues.

According to the certified results, Alharbi received 2,066 votes (44.6 percent), while Mahmood earned 2,060 votes (44.4 percent), a difference of just six votes. Write-in candidate Lynn Blasey received 504 votes (10.8 percent).

Ballot irregularities heightened tensions

Election Night results initially showed Alharbi ahead by 11 votes. Concerns intensified when Clerk Rana Faraj announced that 37 absentee ballots were discovered uncounted in her office two days after the November 4 election. Faraj has since been placed on leave amid a state investigation into possible ballot mishandling.

Correcting signature issues on roughly 120 absentee ballots narrowed the margin to the current six-vote gap. The uncounted 37 ballots remain excluded pending review.

Recount costs and legal challenges continue

Mahmood filed his recount request the day after amended certification and paid the required $500 deposit.

“If the recount expenses go beyond that amount, Hamtramck will pay the difference,” said Dorian Tyus, spokesperson for the Wayne County Clerk’s Office.

Alharbi had attempted to block the recount but missed the legal deadline to file his objection.

Meanwhile, Alharbi has filed a residency challenge, claiming Mahmood actually lives in Troy, making him ineligible to serve. Mahmood denies the claim, saying he resides in Hamtramck but occasionally stays at a Troy property owned with his wife and daughter.

The Michigan State Police is continuing its review of those allegations. Earlier this month, Wayne County Circuit Court Judge Patricia Fresard rejected Alharbi’s request for a temporary restraining order preventing certification if Mahmood were to win the recount.