By Ilana Siyance
New York City will begin the task of counting mail-in ballots for the elections. Though the presidential election was clear cut in New York, the mail-in ballots will determine the outcome of some races still in limbo. As per the NY Post, winners have yet to be announced in: the 11th Congressional District; the Assembly seat for District 46; Assembly seat in District 63; and Long Island’s State Senate.
On Monday, the daunting task of counting has begun. Not all the ballots are in yet, but the process will be getting a head start. The total number of absentee ballots requested by NYC residents is 1.1 million. As of Friday, about half of that had been received. As per the Post, on Friday, there were 199,352 mail-ins received in Manhattan; 161,762 in Queens; 106,987 in Brooklyn; 52,049 in The Bronx and 31,351 in Staten Island. Mail-in ballots must be postmarked by Nov. 3, Election Day. The Absentee votes have until Tuesday to reach the Board of Elections for those mailed in the US, while those coming from overseas and from military residents have until Nov. 16.
Those results are being anxiously awaiting in several local races. In Congressional district 11, covering Staten Island and southern Brooklyn, Republican Nicole Malliotakis currently seems to have the upper hand over incumbent Dem US Rep. Max Rose. Malliotakis has already sought to claim a victory in the heavily contested race, but Rose has refused to concede as yet. “As a soldier who fought for our democracy, I believe every vote should be counted,” Rose told reporters.
The seat in Assembly District 46, representing Coney Island, Brooklyn, could still get a jolt based on mail-in ballots. Republican newcomer Mark Szuskiewicz currently holds a thin lead over Democratic incumbent state Assemblywoman Mathylde Frontus. Though it is usually a safe seat for Democrats, in this case it remains anyone’s game.
In Assembly District 63, the state Assembly seat on Staten Island remains up in the air too. Republican Anthony DeGuerre has a slight lead over veteran Democratic incumbent Michael Cusick, who held the seat since 2003. In Staten Island, President Trump gained ground in the 2020 elections, despite his loss in NYS.
The absentee ballots will also be important in Long Island determining the fate of three state Senate Democrats — Monica Martinez, Jim Gaughran and Kevin Thomas. State Republicans told The Post they are confident they can hold onto their early leads, despite the chances that absentee ballots votes may be heavily Democratic.
