COLUMBUS (AP) - The window has opened for county election boards to begin the official count in Ohio's deadlocked special congressional election.
Republican Secretary of State Jon Husted says Saturday is the first day that official canvassing can begin. The formal tally must be wrapped up by Aug. 24.
The Aug. 7 contest between Republican state Sen. Troy Balderson, of Zanesville, and Democrat Danny O'Connor, the Franklin County recorder, remains too close to call. Balderson leads O'Connor by less than a percentage point with thousands of ballots potentially left to be counted.
If the vote total remains within half a percentage point, an automatic recount will be triggered.
The two seek an open U.S. House seat made available by Republican Pat Tiberi's retirement in January.
