MAYVILLE - The absentee count in the District 14 race for County Legislature hasn't changed since last reported.
According to Democratic Election Commissioner Norman P. Green, no additional absentees were received by the Nov. 15 cutoff date.
Additionally, though military absentee ballots have until Nov. 21 to arrive, Green said the Board of Elections does not expect any more ballots to arrive before Monday.
On Nov. 11 it was reported that a total of 42 absentee ballots had been returned to the county in the race. A total of 67 were sent out. Of those 42 ballots returned to the county, a total of 26 were from registered Republicans and a total of only 16 were from registered Democrats.
The results of the District 14 race could determine which party will control the Chautauqua County Legislature in 2012.
As it stands, the two candidates are only 20 votes apart. Democratic candidate Timothy Hoyer is currently in the lead with a total of 210 votes. Republican candidate Michael Haddad has a total of 190 votes.
With Hoyer in the lead, the legislature looks split between 12 Democrats and 12 Republicans in 2012 - with the wild card being Sheridan Republican Bob Duff.
If Haddad is able to overtake Hoyer as a result of the unopened absentee ballots, that will give the Republicans their 13th vote without Duff - keeping the caucus in the majority in 2012.
CANVASS DATES
The Board of Elections will meet at 1 p.m. Monday to canvass the ballots in the District 14 race.
Scheduled for 3 p.m. are absentee ballots in the town of Ellery highway superintendent race, the Sheridan Town Justice race and the Carroll Town Council race.
Canvassing of ballots for both the Westfield and Poland propositions will take place at 10 a.m. on Nov. 22.
Candidates and proposition advocacy groups are entitled to have a representative at the canvass of absentees and affidavits on Nov 21 or 22.
The election canvass will take place in the basement of the Gerace Office Building in Mayville at the scheduled dates and times.