(11/13/06) YONKERS ? Election officials have started the intense process of recounting votes in the 35th Senate District race between incumbent Republican Senator Nick Spano and Democrat Andrea Stewart-Cousins.

Workers began opening voting machines in a Yonkers warehouse Monday to tally votes. Machines will also be checked Tuesday in Greenburgh and Wednesday in Mount Pleasant. So far, it appears Stewart-Cousins is leading Spano by about 2,000 votes.

The race may give voters a severe case of déjà vu as the two candidates also slugged it out during a long recount two years ago. In that election, Spano beat Stewart-Cousins by just 18 votes in a recount that took three months to decide.

Related information: Let the recount begin in rematch for 35th Senate District 35th Senate District election over, but legal fight just starting