Ice-Bound Bay Island Is Delaying Count in Va. Race

Isolated Tangier Island is having a say in the nearly knotted special election for a Virginia Senate seat.

The State Board of Elections says frozen waters near the Chesapeake Bay island are slowing efforts to verify the results in Tuesday's election between Democrat Lynwood Lewis and Republican Wayne Coleman. Less than two dozen votes separate the two.

The Virginian-Pilot says that could delay certification of the race until Friday.

The race will decide a successor in the 6th Senate District to Democrat Ralph Northam, who successfully ran for lieutenant governor.

The race will have play a part in which party controls the Senate, which is now evenly split 20-20. A special Senate election is also scheduled later this month in northern Virginia.