County Race Update: Belesi Leads Pearson by 85 Votes

Incumbent Republican Joseph Belesi is ahead by 85 votes for the District 14 seat after more than 500 absentee ballots

"114 were challenged during the recount and they will be ruled on by the judge early next week," said William Biamonte, the Democratic commissioner at the Board of Elections.

On Monday, the Board of Elections began counting the paper ballots. Both parties were allowed to have representatives present as the board checked if the application for the ballot and the voter's signature on the registration card matched.

Since Election Day, the Board of Elections called back all the voting machines and suitcases and inventoried absentee and affidavit ballots by legislative district. There were 522 absentee ballots and 32 affidavit ballots, the hand signed ballots, for District 14. Absentee ballots were accepted until Nov. 15 as long as they were postmarked by Nov. 7.

The race between Democratic challenger and Republican incumbent ended too close to call on Election night, prompting this counting of absentee votes and a recount of all non-scanned ballots.

After Election Day, Republicans took an 11-8 majority in the legislature and had slim leads in the inconclusive 14th and 18th district races. The outcome of this race can narrow the majority for the next term.

The 14th district covers parts of North Massapequa, East Massapequa, Seaford, North Wantagh, Levittown, Old Bethpage, Bethpage, Plainedge, Farmingdale and South Farmingdale.