Buffalo, NY (WBEN) State Senator Tim Kennedy has seen his lead grow in the State Senate primary against Betty Jean Grant. A preliminary absentee ballot count shows Kennedy's lead has tripled from 91 to 282 votes.

A Kennedy spokesman says there are 199 affiidavit, 46 emergency, and one automark ballot still to be counted.

Earlier today, an appellate court ruled disputed votes would be counted along with the absentee ballots, but each campaign had the right to have any disputed votes looked over by a judge who is serving as independent overseer.