We're about two hours from another drop of election numbers in Spokane County. Elections Manager Mike McLaughlin said he expects 8,000 to 10,000 votes to be included in the count. That will leave roughly 30,000 votes left for the rest of the week.

The county received 22,567 ballots in the mail on Wednesday, pushing turnout to 52 percent. McLaughlin said another 500 to 1,000 more could be expected the rest of the week.

Here are some things to watch in the coming numbers:

1. Can Mike Allen chip into Jon Snyder's lead for the right to represent South Spokane on the City Council?

Only 59 percent of the votes cast in the South district so far have been counted. Last night, Allen noted that more conservative candidates often fare better in late counts. Even so, Allen would need to do better than Snyder did in Tuesday's counting to make up the gap.

2. Will the city fire bond fail? This one is close enough that it could fall either way, given the number of ballots left to count.

3. Could we be headed for a coin toss in Airway Heights or Fairfield? Airway Heights Mayor Matthew Pederson is only three votes up on his opponent. In Fairfield, Brian Kauffman only leads Karrie Strewart by two, 40-38.