COUNTING has finished for the night in the Maranoa Regional Council election in Roma with just 25 votes separating the top three candidates for Mayor. Incumbent Mayor Loughnan leads the extraordinarily tight first-past-the-post poll with 795 votes of the 2445 votes counted for 32.52% of the ballot. Tyson Golder has 782 votes for 31.98% while Baden Waldron has 770 votes for 31.49%.

Only Sharon Wraight is out of the running with 80 votes and 3.27%.

There have been just 18 informal votes out of the 2445 counted which is low given the issues many voters had in advance of the ballot.

Only 100 votes have been counted in the councillor election and while no results are on the website it is believed Peter Flynn is topping the early poll.

Counting in both elections will resume at 8am Sunday.

The Western Star was not admitted to the tally room and is seeking comment from Electoral Commission Queensland.