Pennsylvania is expected to face a close presidential election in November, leaving some officials worried that the state still does not have an automatic recount law.

Given the projected closeness of the race, Pennsylvania officials have discussed an automatic recount law to ensure counting accuracy; however, no such law has been implemented.

"Indications are that President Bush will possibly win Pennsylvania, but the voter registration is in favor of the Democrats statewide," said state Rep. Lynn Herman, R-Centre. "A closer election could be in store for Pennsylvania than in 2000."

The votes in a close election may still be recounted, but state law has no provision for such a statewide recount to be done automatically, said Brian McDonald, spokesman for the Pennsylvania Department of State.

"If there is a voter or a candidate out there that wants to contest the election, they can do so," McDonald said.

A candidate contesting the election results must go through all 67 counties and each precinct within those counties for a statewide recount. According to state law, the candidate is then required to pay $50 to view the ballot box within each precinct.

An automatic recount is being considered, but at this moment the state has yet to see any legislation, said Abe Amoros, spokesman for Gov. Ed Rendell.

State Rep. Kerry Benninghoff, R-Centre, said he does not expect the election will require a recount and disagrees with the idea of automatically recounting the votes.

"I just don't think that Pennsylvania will be down to one or two votes to decide," Benninghoff said.

In the event of an automatic recount, the state would cover the cost. Currently, recount costs are the candidate's responsibility, McDonald said.

"I don't know if the state wants to pick up the cost of a recount automatically if there isn't a need for one," he said.

The Department of State has taken the initiative to help ensure that the election will not require a recount by educating voters and eliminating confusion about the voting process.

In correlation with the Help America Vote Act, passed in 2002 by Congress to give states money to improve voting procedures and establish a commission that helps with the administration of federal elections, the Pennsylvania Department of State has rolled out a public relations campaign, "Ready. Set. Vote."

The campaign focuses on voter registration and informing voters on how the voting process works.

"We are getting [voters] informed and educated on how to vote, not voting for different platforms, but in effect, how to exercise their right when they show up at the polling place," McDonald said. "Many have no idea what they are going to encounter."

The Department of State provides college students with a guide explaining absentee ballots and voter registration either at a school or home address.

The guide is available at www.dos.state.pa.us.

"We have been working diligently with the Department of State, ensuring a smooth election," Amoros said. "The governor wants to see an error-free election."

Rendell recently met with county election officials stressing the importance of an election without errors, Amoros said.

"We're following all of the guidelines in the election code, and believe me, there are a lot of them," said Wanda Hockenberry, assistant director of Centre County Elections and Voter Registration.