Western Australia\'s Senate election results formally declared

The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) has declared the results of Western Australia's (WA) Senate election, local media reported Monday. WA's Electoral Officer Peter Kramer announced the recount results on Monday, confirming the final two Senate seats were won by the Greens and the Australian Sports Party, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) said. The original result gave the final two Senate spots to the Australian Labor Party and the Palmer United Party (PUP). Local media said the declaration has opened the way for a challenge in the High Court, with both Labor and PUP leader Clive Palmer indicating they will protest against the result in court. The AEC has apologized for losing 1,375 ballot papers, saying the ballot has left a "nagging and almost irreconcilable doubt" in the minds of voters. "Nearly 1,400 West Australian electors have had their Senate votes disenfranchised and I apologize unreservedly to all of those electors," Electoral Commissioner Ed Killesteyn told ABC.