Steve Hughes reports in the Times Union that disputed absentee ballots that may be evidence in a State Police investigation will decide who is the next mayor in the city of Rensselaer. Republican incumbent Mayor Michael Stammel leads Democratic challenger, former Mayor Richard Mooney, by 11 votes after some of the absentee ballots in this fall's election were counted. Of the 212 absentee ballots counted on Nov. 8, Republican Election Commissioner Jason Schofield said 129 were challenged by one side or the other side. More ballots may come in by the Nov. 9 deadline, and then the election board will examine the challenged ballots beginning 10 a.m. Nov. 12. Both Democrats and Republicans have made allegations that the other side abused the practice of someone authorizing another person to pick-up and submit their sealed absentee ballot to the board of elections. As of Nov. 3, 53 of the 64 absentee ballots received by elections officials from others in Rensselaer came from Republican operatives. State Police are currently investigating these allegations, and asking anyone with information about election fraud in Rensselaer to call 518-786-2440. Read more about this story in the Times Union.