VANCOUVER - Vicki Huntington has been declared the official winner in Delta South following a judicial recount completed today.

The independent candidate maintained the 32-vote lead she held over B.C. Liberal candidate Wally Oppal.

“The result after the judicial recount is exactly the same as it was after final count,” said Elections BC spokesperson Kenn Faris.

Oppal held a slim lead after the election-night ballot count, but Huntington pulled ahead after last week's recount and the tallying of absentee ballots.

A judicial recount was then required because Huntington's lead was less than 0.2 per cent of total ballots cast.

The Elections Act now requires a 48-hour-appeal period, but Faris said an appeal is unlikely.

"Counsel for Wally Oppal indicated today he will not be seeking an appeal,” he said.

Elections BC must wait until the end of the day on Thursday until the writ of election can be returned and the information forwarded to the clerk of the legislature.

Premier Gordon Campbell has announced MLAs are expected to be officially sworn-in next Monday.

Garrett Zehr reports for The Tyee.