Alaska to Count Major Portion of Remaining Senate Votes Today

The Alaska Division of Elections will count roughly 50,000 of the outstanding ballots in its statewide elections Wednesday, potentially bringing closure to the state’s close Senate race.

Sen. Ted Stevens (R) leads Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich (D) by 3,257 votes going into today’s count. Stevens had been considered at a disadvantage to win reelection after being convicted October 27 in a D.C. federal court of seven felony counts of making false statements.

On Monday, the Alaska elections agency said there were 70,000 ballots left to be counted, including absentee ballots and early voters’ ballots. The state has until November 19th to count and review all ballots.

Should Stevens maintain his lead, his fate in the Senate may still be jeopardized. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has indicated that Stevens should not be allowed to take his seat.

–Michael O’Brien