CHENANGO – The Chenango County Board of Elections will begin the process of counting mail-in ballots Thursday under the watchful eye of representatives from candidates seeking New York’s 22nd Congressional District.

In a close race Claudia Tenney has a contentious lead over Anthony Brindisi for the district.

Republican Party Commissioner Mary Lou Monahan said about 4,500 absentee ballots were cast in Chenango's 31 voting districts.

She said the campaigns had the right to review and challenge any they thought questionable. She said representatives had requested a list of voters' signatures to compare to the ones voters wrote on the mail-in ballots, to ensure they are similar. All final determinations about any ballot will be made by a judge she said.