Several Local Races Await Arrival of Absentee Ballots to Officially Declare Winner

MAYVILLE – Even though Election Day 2015 is now over, there’s still work that needs to be done.

That’s according to the Chautauqua County Board of Elections, which says there are still some races that could be affected by outstanding absentee ballots, which will be counted within the next two weeks. In addition, the board is required to recanvas voting machine results to make them official.

There are four races in Chautauqua County that have been given top priority in the process of recanvassing, auditing and counting of absentee ballots.

LAKEWOOD MAYOR AND LEGISLATURE RACES AWAIT ABSENTEE COUNT

Those races include the two Chautauqua County legislature races in Jamestown. For District 12, Republican incumbent Elisabeth Rankin leads Democrat Beth Kresge by 31 votes (430-399) with 150 absentee ballots sent out and 69 returned as of Wednesday.

Also in County Legislature District 11 – Republican incumbent David Wilfong leads Democrat Robert Whitney by 42 votes (347-305) with 66 absentee ballots sent out and 44 returned as of Wednesday.

Another race that was too close to call on election night was the race for Lakewood Village Mayor. Democrat endorsed Cara Birrittieri leads Republican incumbent Dave Wordelman by just 20 votes (418-398) with 95 absentees sent out and 53 returned.

Absentees will also be needed to determine the winner of the Westfield Town Clerk race, with the two candidates separated by just 23 votes, with 119 absentee ballots sent out. Currently, Democrat Andrea Babcock  leads Republican incumbent Tim Smith.

Also in an interesting write-in campaign for Kiantone town Supervisor, resident John Ostrander received 107 write-in votes, just two behind Republican Incumbent Kevin Meyers, who was the only name appearing on the ballot.  There were 9 absentees sent out and 4 returned as of Wednesday.

Officials say the opening of any sealed affidavit and absentee ballots will take place starting Nov. 17.  The close races will be tabulated first in front and in full view of the candidates involved or their representatives.