Result of Bean, Walsh race expected today

The final count of ballots in the undecided 8th Congressional District race will occur today, with Democratic incumbent Melissa Bean hoping to overtake the 347-vote lead Republican Joe Walsh currently enjoys.

All three counties in the 8th District will be tallying their outstanding absentee and provisional ballots at different times.

McHenry County likely will finish counting its 24 valid absentee ballots and handful of provisional ballots by the late morning, officials there said.

Cook County is expecting to count its 209 remaining valid ballots about 2 p.m.

Lake County plans to have its remaining ballots counted about 4 p.m., making the final total official. Lake had received 601 valid absentee ballots and 472 provisional ballots whose individual validity will be determined today.

Walsh dominated in Lake and McHenry counties among Election Day voters and is expecting to receive a proportional majority of the absentee votes.

Bean won the majority of Cook County votes on Election Day and gradually narrowed Walsh's overall lead as that county alone counted some of its absentee ballots in the days immediately following Nov. 2.