Absentee Ballots Could Sway Circuit Court Outcome

When the unofficial tallies came in Tuesday, Timothy Boyle led Mark Nielsen by 61 votes in the .

While there was speculation a recount might be in order, the number of absentee ballots that have yet to be counted is greater than the votes that separate the two candidates. More than 400 absentee ballots countywide have not been added to the totals. Because those ballots have a last deadline for receipt by their respective municipalities of 4 pm Friday — and won't be counted until Monday morning — there's no telling whether or not they'll have an impact on the outcome of this election.

"There are absentee ballots that could tip the balance, but we don't know because they haven't been opened yet," said Wendy Christiansen, Racine County clerk.

In the City of Racine, there are 212 absentee ballots, City Clerk Janice Johnson-Martin confirmed. Another 228 or so will come in from around the county.

Mount Pleasant Village Clerk/Treasurer Veronica Rudychev said there are 75 absentee ballots while over in Sturtevant, Clerk/Deputy Treasurer Mary Cole has four.

"The number of outstanding ballots doesn't mean that's the number we'll get back," Cole said. "It really is a toss-up."

Both Rudychev and Cole have set aside time Monday to do their canvassing before transmitting any amended results to Christiansen at the County where canvassing is set for Tuesday.

"All municipalities in Racine County have to have any amended returns to me by 4 pm Monday," she stated. "We will start our Board of Canvass Tuesday morning."

According to the Village of Caledonia Clerk Kari Torkilsen, there are 71 outstanding ballots in that municipality, but any absentee ballots that were returned by election day were counted and included in the return totals.