The race in the 2nd Congressional District between Democratic incumbent Ron Barber and Republican Martha McSally has yet to be called.

The original vote was Nov. 4, and since then there have been multiple attempts to sue by each candidate. Each one has been shot down.

Recently, a lawsuit was conducted by the Barber campaign to count 133 votes that had been considered ineligible. If Barber’s legal challenge was heard, the recount would have been delayed further.

Another lawsuit was rejected Tuesday by Arizona Supreme Court Justice Ann A. Scott Timmer. The lawsuit came from a Tucson attorney representing voters seeking to delay the recount until officials have a new method for ballot counting.

The election is now planned to continue without legal interruption.

McSally is ahead by 161 votes, and according to a press release by the Pima County Communications Office, The Pima County Elections Department is preparing for the official recount of the ballots.

The department has begun unofficial testing of the recount hardware and software used for the recount.

The recount is overseen by the Arizona Secretary of State’s Office and will officially begin today.

Mark Evans with the Pima County Communications Office told KGUN9 that the county has seven tabulation machines that can count between 20,000 and 30,000 ballots daily.

According to The Arizona Republic, the results are to be announced on Dec. 16.

Until then, McSally has declared herself victor and attended freshman orientation in Washington.

Barber is currently the representative for the 2nd Congressional District until congress convenes in January.

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