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Georgia House race separated by only three votes

This is literally a case where every vote counted

"Every vote counts" is a phrase we hear often, and one special election race definitely proves it. 

A special election in Georgia House District 28 is only separated by three votes. And that race is still not over.

The race, between Republican incumbent Dan Gasaway and his challenger -- also a Republican -- Chris Erwin, came about as a result of very unusual circumstances. 

In May, during the Republican primary for Gasaway's 28th District seat in the Georgia House of Representatives, the incumbent lost to Erwin by 67 votes.

RELATED | Georgia runoff election results 

Following the primary, Gasaway sued his opponent and the election boards in three counties -- Habersham, Banks and Stephens. In his lawsuit, he claimed that at least 67 people voted in the wrong district. 

Left to Right: Gasaway, Erwin

Banks County Judge David Sweat agreed, which resulted in a runoff between the two candidates. 

"Because there is no eligible Democratic candidate or eligible candidates of a party other than the Republican party in the 2018 Georgia House District 28 race, the winner of the second 2018 Georgia House District 28 Republican General Primary Election taking place on December 4, 2018 SHALL be declared the winner of the 2018 Georgia House District 28 General Election to take office on January 14, 2019,” Sweat wrote.

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Unofficial race results from the runoff show challenger Erwin with 3,516 votes and incumbent Gasaway with 3,513 votes with 100 percent of the precincts reporting. 

However, the race is still not over. 

Due to a federal court ruling related to absentee ballots in Georgia, final certification of the race must wait for any absentee ballots to be tallied. 

According to the Secretary of State's office, absentee ballots in the race would have to be postmarked by Election Day; Tuesday, December 4, and received by Friday, December 7, in order to be included in the vote total. 

As a result, certification of the election would not occur prior to Friday evening.

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