3 Contested Election Results Weeks Away

Congressman Tim Bishop speaks during a "Get Out the Vote" rally in Stony Brook, N.Y., Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2010. Bishop is being challenged by Republican millionaire businessman Randy Altschuler in the Nov. 2 election. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Election Day may be over, but recounts and legal challenges are expected to last up to three weeks—or longer—in two state legislative seats and a congressional race across Long Island.

On the East End, Randy Altschuler, the Republican businessman challenging Rep. Tim Bishop (D-Southampton), considers the race too close to call and is hoping absentee ballots will help him overcome a 3,400-vote deficit following Tuesday’s election. On the North Fork, Assemblyman Marc Alessi (D-Shoreham) is clinging to a 40-vote lead over Republican challenger Daniel Losquadro, a Suffolk legislator. And on the New York City border, Sen. Craig Johnson (D-Port Washington) is looking to overcome a 400-vote loss to Mineola Village Mayor Jack Martins, a Republican.

In the Altschuler-Bishop race, there are 9,749 absentee ballots that have yet to be counted and more could be received by a Nov. 9 deadline. An elections board spokesman says 13,520 absentee ballot applications were sent out.

In the Johnson-Martins race, there were 3,450 absentee ballots received as of Thursday out of 4,973 requested, an elections board officials said. A spokesman for Alessi said there are more than 2,500 absentee ballots to be counted in the race against Losquadro.

Military members have until Nov. 24 to have their votes counted, although all ballots must have been postmarked by Nov. 1.

But absentee ballots are just the beginning. Election inspectors were working Friday to start pouring over emergency ballots and affidavits. Recounting is not expected to be under way until next week. Legal action could tie up the process as well.

Should Altschuler pull off a come-from-behind victory, it would only add to the margin by which Republicans took control of the House of Representatives this week. If Losquadro beats Alessi, Republicans would still be in the minority in the Assembly.

The most high-stakes contested race is Johnson’s given Democrats only had a 32-30 majority, although Democratic Gov. David Paterson said Thursday that Republicans probably seized control of the Senate. Three tightly contested Senate races in Westchester, Erie and Niagara counties will also play a role on which party ultimately winds up in charge of that chambre.

In recent years, some close Senate races weren’t decided until January and February. The legislative session begins Jan. 1.

The party that controls the Senate will control the redistricting process next year, which redraws election district lines every 10 years. Historically, redistricting favors the party in power by framing often oddly shaped districts so they are packed with their party’s voters or carve up the opposition’s strongholds.

-With Associated Press