5 Votes Separate Congressional Candidates Vying For District 20

FORT LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami) - The nail-biter race for the 20th Congressional District remains down to the wire after the canvassing boards in Broward and Palm Beach met.

First, the machine recounts in each county had Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick losing a vote in Broward but she gained it back in the manual recount.

When that manual recount was finished, McCormick gained two more votes — one from Broward and one from Palm Beach. Now she's ahead of Former Broward Mayor Dale Holness by only 5 votes.

"I'm excited and optimistic. There's a lot of ups and downs. It's exciting seeing the process. I think it will turn out good," Cherfilus-McCormick said.

CBS 4's Ted Scouten asked Holness, "Are you disappointed that she gained 2 more votes today. One here and one in palm beach?" Holness responded, "I'd rather it had gone the other way."

We won't have any final results until at least next Friday. That's when all overseas and military ballots have to be in.

At this point, there are 5 ballots waiting to be counted — more could come in over the next week.

"The vote's not over," Holness said.

"We still have votes to count. It could be in my favor, I'm hoping and praying that that happens so I can continue my public service," he said.

McCormick remains optimistic, but she too is waiting anxiously for that final tally. "I want everybody's votes to be counted. Whoever gets everybody's votes after they are counted is the winner and I think we should keep I like that," she said.

CBS4 News asked Broward Supervisor of Elections Joe Scott what would happen if this race ended in a tie. He said they would have to draw lots.