Razor-thin margins in some local elections remain, even with updated ballot count.

Monterey County Elections officials continue counting and verifying ballots. As that tabulation advances, an updated report was released with election results at 3:19pm on Wednesday, Nov. 20, reflecting 15,326 more ballots counted than the last update a week ago, for a turnout of 68 percent.

The Elections Department estimates there are 1,773 provisional ballots left to count. There are another 629 ballots with missing signatures or signatures that do not match what the Elections Department has on file; those voters will be notified of an opportunity to correct or "cure" their ballots. (Voters have until Dec. 1 to do so.) 

That means results could still change, but the margin for change is getting smaller. The election will be certified on Tuesday, Dec. 3.

The latest count shows the winners from last week's update maintaining, even in close races. In Monterey City Council's District 3, Jean Rasch now leads Eric Palmer by 14 votes.

In Seaside, the no on Measure CC defeat has increased its lead to 768 votes. Supporters of the ban on safe-and-sane fireworks celebrated prematurely on election night when early results showed they would prevail, banning all types of fireworks in the city. 

In Pacific Grove, the close race for the third-place finisher to claim a third City Council seat has narrowed but not changed. With 3,526 votes, Tina Rau is now 80 votes ahead of incumbent Luke Coletti. (For the other two open seats, the top two finishers, Paul Walkingstick and incumbent Chaps Poduri, maintain their lead.)

For Salinas City Council's District 4, Gloria De La Rosa's lead over incumbent Orlando Osornio held and increased slightly, from 88 votes a week ago to 117.

In Sand City, incumbent Marilee Diaz is still on track to win a seat as the top vote-getter with 79 votes. But the other open seat remains in contention, with Michelle Adams just three votes ahead of Luke Kilpatrick.