Final outcome in tight Sangamon County races hinges on provisional and mail-in ballot count

“We still have work to do,” said Sangamon County Clerk Don Gray. “Any mail-in ballots postmarked by Nov. 5 along with any provisional ballots, will be qualified and added to the final result on Nov. 19.” This additional period allows time for mail-in ballots to arrive and for provisional ballots cast at polling places to be verified.

Currently, there are about 3,510 mail-in ballots that could still come in, though not all will necessarily count. Time will actually tell how many will be received and how many will be qualified. To be valid, the ballots must meet postmark and receipt requirements. Gray said all verified votes will be added on Nov. 19.

The election authority has until Nov. 26 to compile reports so the election can be certified and official results provided to the State Board of Elections. At that point, Gray said, candidates in close races will have a five-day window to request a discovery recount if the margin is less than 5%.

“There certainly is enough opportunity amongst the late arriving vote-by-mail ballots and provisional ballots to change the result of those close elections,” the clerk said. “We’re in a waiting pattern now, and time will tell.”

Some voters have wondered about possible changes to the recorder’s office, pending the official outcome of the election. Lesko campaigned on a “Hire me, so you can fire me” message that pushed for elimination of the recorder’s office and the merging of its functions into the county clerk’s office. Gray said, “It’s undeniable that local government consolidations do provide good benefits for taxpayer savings and efficiencies.” He supports those efforts and looks forward to examining any kind of proposal as well as the will of the voters in Sangamon County.

For now, all eyes are on Nov. 19, when the last ballots will be added to the count. Only then will the candidates and their supporters have a clearer view of these close races.