Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand is among the voters whose late-counted ballots will determine the outcome of the race to succed her in New York’s 20th District.

Gillibrand, who was appointed to the Senate after Hillary Rodham Clinton became secretary of State, said Wednesday that she voted by absentee ballot.
She, of course, cast her ballot for fellow Democrat Scott Murphy, who held a slim lead over veteran Republican state lawmaker Jim Tedisco when counting stopped Tuesday night

All paper ballots, including those cast by absentees, have been impounded under court order, and it is not clear when a winner will be declared.

Will Gillibrand’s vote make the difference for Murphy?

“I hope so,” she said.