State

Still 43,000 ballots uncounted in Maricopa County

Wednesday, September 3, 2008 10:17 PM CDT

PHOENIX (AP) - Elections officials in Maricopa County say they still have to count 43,000 ballots from Tuesday's primaries, which could tip the balance in the razor-thin GOP race for the 5th Congressional District.

Currently, David Schweikert holds onto a slim, 790 vote lead over his closest rival, Susan Bitter Smith.

Schweikert ended primary night with 30 percent of the vote, while Bitter Smith had 28 percent.

A spokeswoman for the Maricopa County Recorder's Office says officials hope to finish counting early, provisional and conditional provisional ballots by Sunday.

Not all the ballots are from the 5th District, which covers much of Scottsdale, Tempe and Mesa and parts of Phoenix.