Rangel-Espaillat election battles continues despite final tally

A court issue is the last hurdle keeping Harlem Rep. Charles Rangel from winning a 22nd term in the House.

The city's Board of Elections finished counting all the absentee ballots for the June 26 Democratic primary Saturday and unofficially declared Rangel the winner with a 987-vote lead over his opponent, state Sen. Adriano Espaillat.

Espaillat, 57, who initially conceded to Rangel, filed a lawsuit against the BOE contending that it mismanged polling sites and didn't properly count ballots.

A Bronx judge ruled that while the Board of Elections can certify the results, it couldn't send them to Albany for final certification while the lawsuit is pending.

The city BOE, which is slated to certify the results on Thursday, said it will appeal the judge's decision.

Another hearing on the lawsuit is scheduled to be held on Wednesday.

A spokesman for Espaillat declined to comment about Saturday's tally.

Rangel's office could not be reached for comment .