Kenneth C. Crowe II reports in the Albany Times Union that the absentee vote count in Rensselaer County begins Nov. 13. The outcome of the Rensselaer County Executive race is not expected to change, even though Democrat Andrea Smyth has yet to concede to Assemblyperson Steve McLaughlin, who currently has a 909-vote lead. "Every vote matters," Rensselaer County Democratic Chairman Michael Monescalchi said Nov. 8. Crowe credit's McLaughlin's margin of victory to his being on the Independence line, as well as the Republican line. That was only possible because of a last-minute series of events after McLaughlin lost two court decisions to get that line on the ballot. Grafton Town Justice Pierce Hoyt resigned his judgeship so that Deputy County Executive Christopher Meyer could run for his spot even though Meyer is not a lawyer. That meant that Meyer could decline the Independence Party nomination, so McLaughlin could appear in the Independence line. Read the full story in the Albany Times Union.