South Bay election races tighten up with few votes left to count

Following the November 4 election, vote counting has continued. In fact, nearly 30 percent more votes have been counted since election night. These were primarily vote-by-mail and provisional ballots. In local elections, the overall results of election night have not changed, but the races have gotten tighter.

In the 66^th Assembly district, Republican David Hadley leads incumbent Democrat Al Muratsuchi by 1.069 votes. On election night, Hadley’s lead was 2,493.

In Hermosa Beach, Measure Q, which needs 55 percent to pass, has seen its yes vote rise to 54.18 percent from 52.88 percent. In the race for the two spots on the Beach Cities Health District Board, Michelle Bholat has maintained her first place position, with her lead over second place doubling. However, the second position in the three person race has shifted from a seven vote edge for Noel Lee Chun over Joanne Edgerton to a small lead for Edgerton and then back to Chun. He leads now by 30 votes.

The LA County Registrar estimates that about 75 percent of the outstanding vote has been counted. There will be at least two more updates. Not all of the remaining votes will qualify, for example, if signatures don’t match or other anomalies, such as spoiled ballots, are discovered. Final numbers are required by December 2.