The votes cast in the elections for 2nd Ward alderman and 12th district county legislator may be subject to a recount, due to the closeness of the races, according to the Niagara County Board of Elections.
In the 2nd Ward, Democratic candidate Anita Mullane appears to have ousted Republican incumbent alderman Luke Kantor by 10 votes as of Tuesday night. Unofficial results posted by the board of elections late Tuesday showed the race at 477-467, with all early and Election Day live votes, and some absentee votes, counted.
In the Lockport-anchored 12th Legislative District, Democratic candidate Carla Speranza appears to have defeated Republican incumbent legislator Will Collins by 19 votes. The unofficial tally is 1,027-1,008.
A recount is in order whenever 20 or fewer votes separate the winner and the loser in a race, once all absentee votes are accounted for, according to Democratic election commissioner Lora Allen. The board of elections will continue to accept mailed absentee ballots with a postmark date of Nov. 7 until Nov. 14.
As of Tuesday night, the board had processed all but 100 absentee ballots received countywide through Monday. Opening of those ballots awaited verification of the voters’ signatures, Republican election commissioner Jennifer Sandonato said.