Suspense Lasts One More Day for Tiverton Casino & Close Local Races

NEWPORT, RI – The fat lady may be warming up, but the 2016 election really isn't over yet, primarily due to the 42,000 emergency ballots cast by Rhode Islanders and yet to be counted.

Last night, the Tiverton Casino question, for one example, was too close to call. It appeared the local voters had approved Question 8, but the margin of victory was a slim 200 votes. About 1,000 Tiverton votes remain to be counted.

At the end of the night, State Rep. Deb Ruggiero was up 43 votes over her challenger, Jamestowner Rebecca Schiff for the District 74 House seat, representing Middletown and Jamestown.

Then, there's House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello's race against Republican Steve Frias for the District 15 House seat in Cranston. Mattiello's behind 147 votes, but there are some 800 votes still outstanding.

Newporters applied for 1,384 mail ballots, according to Nicole Legace, spokeswoman with the state Secretary of State's office. No one yet can say how many were returned in time. But depending on the numbers, several races could be affected.

The similar situation applies to many other communities.

The state Board of Elections will have all the totals by 4 p.m. Thursday, the office said.