After meeting twice this week to count the provisional and absentee ballots that have come in so far, Board of Elections members in both districts have reported no change in the winners of this year’s primary — though the Senate race between newcomers Clarence Payne and Simon Caines on St. Thomas is still a squeaker.
On St. Croix, 258 absentee ballots—including both mail- and walk-in—were counted by Tuesday, but 107 more mail-in absentee ballots and three provisional ballots remain to be counted.
At the end of Primary night, when the votes cast via voting machine were tallied, Sen. Wayne James had squeaked into the seventh and final slot on the Democratic Party ticket, with a tiny 20-vote lead over eighth-place finisher Pedro "Pei" Cruz.
The walk-in ballots counted Tuesday split more toward James than Cruz, widening James’ lead from 20 to 47 votes, solidifying his place on the ticket somewhat.
The St. Croix Board of Elections began counting the remaining ballots Thursday and should finish up Friday, Elections officials said on Thursday afternoon. It is still mathematically possible for Cruz to pull an upset and displace James on the Democratic Party ticket, but only if the remaining ballots swing overwhelmingly toward Cruz.
Meanwhile, board members on St. Thomas-St. John started their tally Tuesday by counting 272 walk-in absentee ballots and 77 mail-ins. By the end of the evening’s count, Payne had widened his lead to 22.
However, there’s still some hope for Caines. Officials have said approximately 265 absentee ballots were mailed out this year, which potentially leaves 188 mail-ins yet to be counted—if all were returned.
The mail-ins do not have to be in until Sept. 21, so the result might not be official until then.
On Thursday, the board counted all 109 provisional ballots cast during the primary — 97 of which were able to be put toward the final tally. From that amount, Payne picked up another 52 votes, while Caines pulled in 45, putting Payne’s lead at 29.
Board members said they received 30 more mail-ins Wednesday, and expect to receive more over the next few days.
The boards have 15 days after the primary to certify the election results.
