Lynchburg election workers began canvass of votes

10:45 a.m.

City election officials began the canvass of ballots cast in Tuesday’s election just after 10 a.m. this morning at the registrar’s office.

Representatives for both incumbent Shannon Valentine and City Council member Scott Garrett were present for the canvass, which is expected to take all day. Garrett edged Valentine by a 210-vote margin in unofficial returns Tuesday night.

Local electoral boards are required to meet after each election to certify the results. The canvass process includes reviewing provisional ballots and rechecking the total number of ballots cast compared with the number of names on the poll books, among other steps. Election results are not official until this process is completed.

Valentine did not concede Tuesday night and said she would wait until the votes are certified before announcing her next step.