One important question, though, was whether to challenge the overseas ballots.

With the election so close, these overseas ballots may decide the winner.

State law required all overseas ballots to have foreign postmarks.

The networks were continually changing that total as each county reported overseas ballots to the state.

But it might have made a difference, if 680 flawed overseas ballots had not been included in her official returns.

Final results were not known until after 5 December 2011, when overseas ballots were due.

According to federal law, overseas ballots from military personnel do not require a postmark.

In addition, overseas ballots cannot be counted until after the seven day deadline has expired.

The Times could not obtain 35 overseas ballots cast in four counties because officials failed to locate them.

A count of overseas military ballots later boosted his margin to about 900 votes.