BUFFALO, N.Y. - The absentee ballot count is underway in the NY-27th district Congressional race, which was hotly contested between republican incumbent Chris Collins and democrat Nate McMurray.
When the smoke cleared after election night, Collins was ahead by almost 3,000 votes.
However, McMurray retracted what appeared to most as a concession speech on election night after learning how close the unofficial vote was.
He also insisted there were 18,000 votes outstanding, including absentee and affidavit ballots to be counted.
Votes Outstanding
The affidavit ballots, which are given to voters when there is a discrepancy at the ballot box and reviewed later to see if they will be allowed, were secured on Election Day.
Tuesday was the last day for absentee ballots to arrive back in time for them to be included in the vote count.
On Wednesday we reached out to each of the boards of election in the eight counties which are either wholly or partially within the 27th.
From those conversations, it appeared the number of votes to be counted after election night was closer to 14,400.
Slightly less than 3,000 (or about 20% of them) have been counted thus far.
From those, McMurray got 343 more votes more than Collins did, but still trails by about 2,600.
All Eyes on Erie County
Meanwhile the biggest prize at stake has yet to be claimed.
The Erie County Board of Elections is in possession of approximately 5,400 absentee and 1,400 affidavit ballots, which according to republican elections commissioner Ralph Mohr will be counted on Tuesday November 20, by which time any military, overseas, and foreign ballots must also be received.
The total of outstanding votes in Erie County, which McMurray unofficially won by 5,000 votes over Collins, represents nearly half the total of the votes left to be counted in the entire 27th district.
As the outcome of absentee votes generally mirrors those registered at voting machines on Election Day, McMurray may gain on Collins there as well.
However, McMurray is as of now in a positon where he need to get nearly three votes for every one that Collins receives of the remaining ballots, in order to change the unofficial outcome of the election.
Here are the outcomes of the outstanding vote count thus far including absentee and affidavit votes, and excluding military, overseas, and foreign ballots which can be received up until November 19.
Monroe County: McMurray 147 - Collins 101.
Ontario County: McMurray 1,050 – Collins 707
Wyoming County: Collins 339 - McMurray 288.
Genesee County: Approximately 1,200 absentee and affidavit ballots being counted
Niagara County: 2,548 absentee and 200 affidavit ballots. Counting began on Wednesday and elections officials hope to have it completed by Thursday.
Orleans County: 561 absentee and 85 affidavit ballots. Counting begins at 8am Thursday.
Livingston County: 71 absentee and 136 affidavit ballots. To be counted on Monday, November 19
Erie County: Approximately 5,400 absentee and approximately 1,400 affidavit ballots. To be counted on Tuesday, November 20.