Several races, including three in the two cities, will come down to absentee ballots and affidavits.

Brian Abram, Chautauqua County Board of Elections Republican election commissioner, said during the next 24 to 48 hours, the Board of Elections will have a “clear picture” of all the races that could be impacted by absentee ballots and affidavits.

Domestic absentee ballots, which needed to be postmarked by Nov. 2, will continue to be collected until Tuesday, Nov. 9. Military ballots have 13 days to reach Mayville. The Board of Elections is set to count absentee ballots Monday, Nov. 15.

As for races that will be finalized by absentee ballots, Abram said the Jamestown City Council Ward 3 race will be one. As of now, Democrat Regina Brackman holds an 11-vote lead over Robert Reedy II, who was endorsed by the Republican and Conservative parties. Abram said 36 absentee ballots were mailed to voters, with 16 having been returned. He said the number of affidavits hasn’t been finalized yet.

“There is a high enough (count of absentee ballots) to change the end result. Not that it will,” he said.

The other two Jamestown City Council races that were close will most likely not change based on absentee ballots. Abram said in Ward 6 Republican Andrew Faulkner holds a 62-vote lead over incumbent Democrat Tom Nelson. However, he said only 61 absentee ballots were requested in Ward 6, so that number falls short of the difference.

In Ward 4, Abram said incumbent Democrat Marie Carrubba holds a 65-vote lead over Richard Elardo. However, he said only 57 absentee ballots have been returned.

“Realistically, no,” Abram said about the chance of Jametown’s Ward 6 and Ward 4 results changing.

In the city of Dunkirk, Abram said both the At-Large and Ward 2 results will go to absentee ballots. He said the At-Large race – David Damico versus Nick Weiser – has a difference of 99 votes, with 386 absentee ballots sent out and 176 already received.

In Ward 2, Linda Stolinski has an 18-vote lead over Martin Bamonto, with 56 ballots already returned to the Board of Elections.

Abram also said the Chautauqua County Legislature District 1 race between Marcus Buchanan and Kevin Muldowney will most likely come down to absentee ballots. Muldowney has a 92-vote lead with 237 absentee ballots sent out and 91 already returned.