Republican Congressman Virgil Goode says he will petition for a recount in his apparent loss to Democrat Tom Perriello.

Goode made the announcement Monday after the State Board of Elections certified Perriello as the winner by just 745 votes out of more than 316,000 cast in the Fifth District race. That's a margin of less than a quarter of a percent, which entitles Goode to a recount at taxpayer expense.

Goode says a recount is an important protection for the voters. Perriello says he doesn't expect the recount to change the outcome, and he's moving ahead with transition plans.