Emporia ? A recount has been requested after a smoking ban won approval last week in Emporia by just six votes.

Emporia attorney Michael Helbert filed the request Monday morning at the office of the Lyon County Clerk.

The hand recount will start at 1 p.m. today. It is only expected to take two hours to double-check the more than 4,700 ballots cast.

The ban is already in effect. It prohibits smoking in all public places and businesses including bars and restaurants, and within 10 feet of a business entrance. The ban does not extend to private offices where the public is not regularly or frequently invited inside.