Alabama Senate Race Write-Ins Still Being Counted

MONTGOMERY, AL — Nearly 23,000 write-in votes in last week's U.S. Senate election are still being sorted through and counted, but don't expect them to change the result.

Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill says Senator-elect Doug Jones's win isn't expected to change.

Merrill announced Monday that counties will check write-in votes under a new state law that only requires poll workers to sort through them if the number of write-ins is higher than the winner's margin of victory.

With 20,634 votes, Doug Jones defeated embattled Republican Roy Moore to become the first Democrat elected to the Senate from Alabama in a quarter-century. Moore was beset by allegations of sexual misconduct involving teenage girls decades ago.

Merrill has said no change is anticipated from last-minute ballots, including write-ins and overseas votes.
Moore hasn't conceded awaiting state certification, expected between Dec. 26 and Jan 3.

AP Photo/John Bazemore, File