Election UPDATE: Legislative race a 'nail biter' between Graves and LaForge

Karl Graves

It's a real nail-biter to see who will win the Allegany County legislative race in District 4, which includes Wellsville and Andover. One thing is pretty clear, newcomers Steve Havey and Gary Barnes, both of Wellsville, will serve as Allegany County Legislators beginning in January. However, the third seat is up in the air. As of this morning, unofficial results show Karl Graves has a 16 vote lead over Kevin LaForge.

Kevin LaForge

However, there are approximately 100 absentee ballots that haven't been counted. Those will likely be processed sometime next week. Only then, will we know who the official winner is. The Allegany County Board of Elections says Graves has 1,017 unofficial votes...LaForge has 1,001. In a Facebook post this morning, Graves said "I am not in any way claiming victory. Kevin LaForge is still in this fight and I respect that."
District four has a history of close races. In 1994, the legislative race also came down to the counting of absentee ballots.