Jimmy Vielkind reported at Capitol Confidential Monday afternoon, with every ballot that was ruled legally valid counted, Republican George Amedore holds a 39-vote lead over Democrat Cecilia Tkaczyk (KAT-chik) in the 46th Senate District race that was only decided by counting absentee and affidavit ballots. Election officials from Greene County opened the last 133 ballots, Mon., Dec. 10, yielding an eight vote pick-up for Tkaczyk. Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos issued a statement congratulating Amedore on a hard-fought and well-deserved victory. Democrats said any declaration was premature. They plan to appeal the invalidated votes, which include 53 ballots of Ulster County election workers that were cast before a statutory deadline. Read the full story at Capitol Confidential, a Times Union blog.