CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – It’s been 50 hours since the polls closed, but the race for Iowa’s First Congressional District has yet to be called.

Incumbent Republican Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks claimed victory over challenger Chistina Bohannan by nearly 800 votes. Bohannan did not concede the race. The votes currently posted are technically unofficial results. After the polls closed on Tuesday, the process began to ensure all votes were counted before the election results were certified.

“This is the third time we’ve won this district,” Miller-Meeks said.

The congresswoman has been declaring victory in the 1st Congressional District race since the early morning hours Wednesday and Washington County vote totals were released later in the day.

“As expected, we thought we would do well in Washington County,” Miller-Meeks said.

Later Wednesday, his opponent, Democrat Christiana Bohannan, published a post on social media saying: “I am very, very proud of the work we have done in this district. This race is still too close to call, and we expect more votes to come in in the coming days. We will make sure every legal vote is counted. I would like to thank everyone who brought us to this point, I am honored to be with you on this path.”

He had no further comment about the race.

“These candidates are looking at UOCOVA ballots and asking questions about them; they still have a chance to be counted,” said Jones County Auditor Whiteny Hein. “They also want a provisional ballot.”

UOCAVA votes cast by military members and U.S. citizens living abroad are still coming in and need to be counted, Hein said. It won’t be until Wednesday next week when the county’s votes will be certified and the election results will be considered “official.”

“The board of supervisors reviews all the election results and announces the results of each race out loud, and then they certify the canvass, which means they finalize the results of election day,” he said.

While it’s unclear whether a candidate will seek a recount, Hein said that for the most part, that request won’t happen until after the votes are counted, and candidates can choose which districts they want to have their votes recounted.

“Recount requests are at the county level, so they will need to request a recount in the counties they choose,” Hein said.

The official ballot canvassing normally takes place the Tuesday after Election Day, but because of Monday’s federal holiday, Hein said the official certification won’t happen until Wednesday.

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