Officials began counting absentee ballots today to determine who won the race for the 96th Assembly District seat.

Not including absentee ballots, Republican incumbent Nancy Calhoun is ahead of Democratic challenger and Orange County Legislator Roxanne Donnery by just more than 300 votes.

A team of lawyers went through each absentee ballot at the Rockland County Board of Elections today before they began counting them. The attorneys say they need to review all of the absentee ballots to ensure that they are in order and to be able to file any objections.

Calhoun says she hasn't declared victory, but thinks it is only a matter of time.

The 96th Assembly District also includes parts of Orange County. The Orange County Board of Elections says it won't be counting absentee ballots until Nov. 16.