NATCHEZ — Absentee and affidavit ballots are being validated today at the Adams County Courthouse, but election officials say not to expect actual vote counts until later in the week.

Election Commissioner Larry Gardner said while all the paperwork has been turned in to the county, for some election workers, the real work has just begun.

“We haven’t counted any ballots. We’re sorting through them today to see what’s valid to count,” Gardner said.

With votes being so close for candidates Chuck Mayfield and Randy Freeman, Gardner said in order to ensure a fair election and have every valid vote counted, each absentee ballot and affidavit must be approved.

“We’re going through the affidavits and absentees to validate if they are a registered voter, and did (the voter) vote where they say they live.

“Even though it’s not a precinct-sensitive election, they have to vote where they live,” Gardner said.

Gardner said until each precinct box’s paperwork was collected and counted, he would not know how many absentee ballots or affidavits are to be counted in the next few days.

“From what we’ve heard, there doesn’t appear to be many affidavits,” Gardner said.

Gardner said he doesn’t think election workers will be counting ballots by the end of the day, and sees Thursday as a more likely starting point for vote counting.