Ben Fractenberg/THE CITY
Voting ended for New York City’s first ranked choice election Tuesday with one candidate holding such a sizable lead that counting votes beyond the top pick on each ballot may not be necessary.
Democrat James Gennaro reaped more than 3,200 first-place votes out of upwards of 5,500 cast on Tuesday and during nine days of early voting in the crowded special election contest for a southeast Queens City Council seat.
Up to 2,000 absentee ballots had yet to be counted meaning it could still be weeks before an official winner is announced in the snow-snagged eight-candidate race.
But if his margin remains above 50%, Gennaro will automatically win the special election, called to fill a vacancy left by former Councilmember Rory Lancman. In that event, no tally of voters’ ranked choices of up to four additional candidates will take place.