County Election Officials Counting Ballots

County election officials have been counting provisional and mail-in absentee ballots today in an effort to finalize some close races.  

Local election officials met earlier today to add provisional and mail-in votes to previous totals. Margins are close in a number of races. In the 7th Congressional District, Democratic Congressman Mike McIntyre was previously about 400 votes ahead of his challenger, Republican David Rouzer. Both campaigns have sent lawyers and other workers to witness election officials as they work. In the lieutenant governor's race, Republican Dan Forest was ahead of Democrat Linda Coleman by roughly ten thousand votes on election night.

Coleman has also said she's filing a lawsuit over the fact that residents can't both register and vote on Election Day. Officials are also sending in numbers in two legislative races- one for the state Senate between Democratic incumbent Stan White and his Republican challenger William Cook. And a state House race pits Republican incumbent Jonathan Jordan against his challenger, Democrat Cullie Tarleton.