ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — The slow and at-times opaque process of vote-counting in New York continued Monday as one county unearthed several dozen uncounted ballots that could determine the outcome of a tight House race.

Chenango County informed a state judge it had discovered 55 early voting ballots that weren't canvassed by the local board of election, and therefore weren't included in the vote totals in the ultra-tight race between U.S. Rep. Anthony Brindisi, a Democrat, and his Republican challenger, former U.S. Rep. Claudia Tenney.

The discovery of the uncounted ballots came a day after counties in the 22nd Congressional District reported what was supposed to have been their final vote totals to a state judge.

The most recent results — which don’t include those ballots — showed Tenney with a 12-vote lead over Brindisi.

The final result in the race will have to wait until Supreme Court Justice Scott DelConte rules on challenges to more than 2,000 disputed absentee and affidavit ballots cast in the contest.

Chenango County attorney Alan Gordon told the court in a letter that the newly discovered ballots remained sealed pending further instructions from the court.

The discovery of those ballots is the latest twist in perhaps the nation's closest congressional race. Tenney led by several thousand votes on Election Day, but here lead evaporated as absentee ballots were counted.

Brindisi took a lead of a few votes last week, only to see his advantage disappear after two counties said they had made tabulation errors.

County boards of election had faced a Nov. 28 deadline to send official results to the state, but DelConte has blocked the counties tabulating the Brindisi vs. Tenney race from certifying the results while the vote counting disputes are resolved.