Lol, at my Republican Aunt making a point that absentee ballots don't count unless it's a tie. W/e NY has been Democratic since the 50s or 60s so shhhhhhh.

That is an urban legend. They are always counted, though they are often counted last.

All votes are counted, but often a race is called for a victor before the absentees are counted because the margin is greater than the number of absentees. They often do not get counted on election night, but

they are eventually counted. They are votes - no vote is less meaningful than any other - and they are counted. Now some come in after election day and depending on state law over whether postmark or receipt

the deadline, they might not get counted if they arrive too late.

Absentee ballots are always counted. Otherwise those voters would be disenfranchised.