The Broome County Board of Elections will count the absentees and emergency, or affidavit ballots next week.

Action News Reporter Caitlin Nuclo joins us live from the newsroom to explain the process, and whether new voting machines will have an impact.

None of the results from election day are final until the board of election certifies them.

And with two tight races in Broome County, they're preparing for a busy week ahead.

"Everyone thinks the election is over, it's just the beginning for us," said Election Auditor Debra Butler.

Binghamton Mayor and Johnson City dissolution are resting on absentee and affidavit ballots.

"We will still do the same process that we always do whether we're 1-thousand apart or 1 apart," said Board of Elections Deputy Commissioner Karen Davis.

741 absentee ballots were sent out in the City of Binghamton.

351 went to registered Democrats and 303 went to Republicans.

So far, 524 ballots have been returned.

Ballots need to be post marked by November 2nd, and returned by November 10th.

Those in the military have that deadline extended to November 17th.

The Board of elections are also filtering through affidavit ballots that were filled out at the polls.

Once all those ballots are counted, they'll be added to the machine numbers to give us the final results.

It's the same process, even with the new voting machines.

But with an election this close, there could be added checks and balances.

"If a race is within one percent the ballot has to be hand counted," said Davis.

The candidates can also challenge results, and request a hand count.

That decision is then up to the Republican and Democratic Commissioner.

The Johnson City dissolution vote will also come down to absentee ballots.

222 were mailed out, and 174 have been returned.

The Board of Elections will start counting both the absentee and affidavit ballots on November 12th.