A three-judge panel overseeing the 5th Congressional District recount has rejected a request to count late-arriving absentee ballots cast by U.S. troops overseas.

An unknown number of late-arriving absentee ballots cast by U.S. military personnel overseas have not yet been counted in the photo finish race between Democrat Tom Perriello of Ivy and U.S. Rep. Virgil H. Goode Jr., R-Rocky Mount.

Democrat Tom Perriello claimed victory Friday in his against-all-odds campaign to unseat longtime GOP Congressman Virgil H. Goode Jr., R-Rocky Mount.

Democrat Tom Perriello of Ivy has declared victory in his bid to unseat longtime GOP congressman Virgil H. Goode Jr., R-Rocky Mount.

The lead for Democrat Tom Perriello in the 5th District race just got substantially larger, according to a 2:05 p.m. update by the State Board of Elections.