Tom Casey in the Register-Star reports that after a hand count of votes Monday, Democrat Nick Haddad picked up one vote, and Republican William Hallenbeck lost one, leaving Hallenbeck with a 25-vote lead, down from 27. Haddad's representatives also objected to three ballots, forcing a judge to make a decision, while the election board opens 188 absentee and 32 affidavit ballots at 9 a.m. Tue., Nov. 29, and counts those. Judge Patrick McGrath also denied the Haddad campaign’s request not to count 32 "permanent" absentee ballots, ones that are hand-delivered every election, usually by party officials. McGrath ruled the objection had to come before the election in accordance with the ruling in Finger vs. Martin. “We could have appealed, we still can, but we probably won’t,” Haddad lawyer John Friedman said. Haddad needs roughly 57 percent of the 220 outstanding votes to overturn Hallenbeck's lead. Read the full story in the Register-Star.