Jefferson County Assessor race determined after provisional ballots counted

JEFFERSON COUNTY, NE — After waiting to determine the status of provisional ballots in the county, Jefferson County now has the results from the County Assessor race. 

Mary Banahan has won reelection, according to the latest round of results from the county clerk's office. 

Banahan defeated her challenger Micahel Vocelka by a vote count of 188-183 in a campaign in which both candidates ran as write-ins. 

When the initial round of results were released the morning after the election, Banahan held a 181-180 lead over Vocelka, but there were still provisional ballots to be counted.

Provisional ballots are given to voters whose voter registration status is unclear on election day. If the county canvassing board can confirm the voter's status, the votes are counted toward the results. 

There were nine provisional ballots in total. According to the updated results, each candidate received one vote from the provisional ballots while the other seven did not write-in either candidate. 

Jefferson County Clerk Kristina Riggle said the canvassing board also went back and hand counted the votes in the race and determined the updated vote count of 188-183. 

Election results are unofficial until Dec. 5, when the Board of State Canvassers meets to certify the election results.