PORTSMOUTH — Four votes.

That’s all that separated Democratic newcomer Alexander Lewis Roberts and Republican Town Council President Keith E. Hamilton as of Wednesday morning, leaving the seventh and final seat on the Portsmouth Town Council undecided more than a week after Election Day.

Updated figures from the R.I. Secretary of State’s Office showed Roberts with 3,586 votes to Hamilton’s 3,582, raising the possibility that Democrats could sweep all seven seats on the council.

The deadline for outstanding military and overseas ballots to arrive was 4 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10, but no additional results had been posted by The Portsmouth Times’ print deadline Wednesday morning.

Hamilton, meanwhile, has requested a recount.

“Just for the record, I have filed for a recount, just so all the I’s are dotted and the T’s are crossed,” Hamilton told his fellow council members Monday night.

At the time, Hamilton said, the numbers had been shifting throughout the day.

“As of 9 o’clock this morning, I was down by two votes. By 3 o’clock this afternoon I was down by four votes. So we’ll see what happens with the rest of the results that come in,” he said.

Possible Democratic sweep

Democrats won six of the seven council seats outright, with John Mark Ryan leading all candidates with 4,166 votes, followed by incumbent Juan Carlos Payero with 4,140.

Also securing seats were Leonard B. Katzman, David P. Fiorillo, M. Conley Wake Zani and John G. McDaid, all Democrats.

Among those defeated were independent Mary A. McDowell and Republicans Sharlene M. Patton and David G. Reise.

Hamilton initially appeared to have survived the Democratic wave, but subsequent vote counts erased his narrow lead over Roberts.

Should Roberts prevail, Democrats would hold every seat on the seven-member council — a dramatic reversal from the current makeup of the board, which includes four Republicans and an independent.

New council expected Dec. 7

Town Administrator Richard Rainer Jr. told council members Monday that the town is tentatively planning a swearing-in ceremony for Monday, Dec. 7.

“We anticipate the Board of Elections will not certify the general election results before Nov. 24,” Rainer said. “The Portsmouth Canvassing Authority will meet on Dec. 1 to certify the local results.”

Under the town charter, the first meeting of a newly elected council must be held on the first Monday following certification of the election of a majority of its members by the canvassing authority.

“We’re planning on Dec. 7 for the swearing-in,” Rainer said.

As they stand

Here are the unofficial results as of Wednesday morning, Nov. 11. The top seven candidates win seats.

John Mark Ryan (D), 4,166

Juan Carlos Payero (D), 4,140

Leonard B. Katzman (D), 4,086

David P. Fiorillo (D), 4,076

M. Conley Wake Zani (D), 3,975

John G. McDaid (D), 3,761

Alexander Lewis Roberts (D), 3,586

Keith E. Hamilton (R), 3,582

Mary A. McDowell (I), 3,178

David M. Gleason (R), 3,141

Sharlene M. Patton (R), 2,813

David G. Reise (R), 2,773

Write-ins 141

Source: R.I. Secretary of State’s Office. Results remain unofficial pending certification.