Lyme supervisor race a tie after election night; outstanding ballot checks, recount ahead

Nov. 8—CHAUMONT — Six outstanding ballots could turn out to be the difference in the race for town supervisor.

Both James G. Millington Jr. and incumbent Supervisor Terry D. Countryman ended Election Day on Tuesday still not knowing the results of the race.

Unofficial results show that the race ended in an exact 318-vote tie.

Jude R. Seymour, Republican elections commissioner for Jefferson County, said there are four absentee votes from Lyme between Nov. 6 and 7 and two affidavits meaning there are at least six votes still out there.

Absentee votes postmarked by Election Day and received by the Board of Elections by Nov. 14 can be counted.

Seymour said they will be canvassing any absentee votes that came in between Monday and Sunday at 9 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 13.

The Board of Elections will also do a manual recount on Nov. 17.

Seymour said that an affidavit vote is one that is subject to additional review by the Board of Elections bipartisan team. Normally, this is because someone moved and did not update their address with the Board of Elections. He also said it could be because the poll book showed the voter already voted; the voter was issued an absentee, whether they returned one or not; or they registered to vote without giving their signature.

They are scheduled to begin canvassing affidavits at 2 p.m. Wednesday but said they may not do it until Thursday.

If the six votes come back with a tie, Seymour said it would be considered a "failure to elect."

As for what would happen if it remains a tie, "Let's cross that bridge if/when we come to it," Seymour said in a text message.