After losing his School Committee seat by 37 votes during the April 4 election, former committee member Chris Garth is seeking a recount.

The incumbent was ousted by newcomer Kathleen Amaral — 1,798 to 1,761 — which fits into the range of expected error, Garth said.

"Everything I've read says that optical scanners have between a one and two percent error margin," he said. "I don't know if [the recount is] going to change the outcome, but the public will know every vote counts."

The ballot counters used in the April election are brand new, Garth noted.

Garth will have to submit 10 residents' signatures from every precinct he wants recounted by 5 p.m. on April 14. He said he will get signatures from each of Dartmouth's nine precincts, except Precinct No. 3, which includes the university and had low voter turnout.

If successful, Town Clerk Lynn Medeiros will first have to validate all of the signatures and then hand-count the ballots. The official state recount laws can be found at www.sec.state.ma.us.

Incumbent Carol Karafotis also ran for a School Committee seat, but filled the first opening with 2,174 votes.