7th Congressional and lieutenant governor races too close to call

According to the state board of elections, there are 46,766 provisional ballots outstanding in 89 counties, with 11 counties still to report their numbers. 

Voters cast a provisional ballot when they run into trouble at the poll. Most commonly, there is an issue with their address, although provisional ballots are used in a variety of circumstances. 

Such ballots are not counted on Election Day. County boards of election will examine them on canvass day, which is Friday, Nov. 16 this year. Assuming the voter is entitled to vote, their ballots will be counted. 

Only 11,370 votes separated Democrat Linda Coleman and Republican Dan Forest in the race for lieutenant governor. That means the 46,766 provisional votes outstanding are enough to swing that race, in which Forest holds a slim lead. 

Meanwhile, there are 507 votes separating Democratic incumbent Mike McIntyre and Republican state Sen. David Rouzer. But the counties that are home to the 7th Congressional district have 10,572 outstanding provisional ballots. That race, too, is officially too close to call.