NEW WINDSOR – The Republican primary race between former New York State Assemblyman Colin Schmitt and Town Councilman Stephen Bedetti is still undecided. The two were separated by three votes when the polls closed last month. Schmitt originally had the lead over Bedetti by a count of 757 to 754.
The highly contested race has been under the scrutiny of the Orange County Board of Elections. According to a source, the current tally has Bedetti leading Schmitt as of Thursday.
As of Primary night, there were approximately 49 absentee ballots that needed to be received by Wednesday, July 5th. There were also 35 votes that were cast by affidavit that were recently counted.
New York law that requires an automatic hand recount of the ballots if the margin of victory is 20 votes or less; or 0.5% or less; or less than 5,000 votes in a contest where one million or more ballots are cast. The hand recount is expected on Monday, July 10, 2023.
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