DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — There are still four races yet to be decided, three weeks after voters went to the polls.

Unofficial results indicate incumbent Democrats will likely hang on to those seats by a thread. The State Canvassing Board is expected to meet on Monday to formally ratify the results.

If Democrats do win those races, they will have a 32-18 margin in the House and a 56-44 edge in the House.

Recounts have shown Democrats Sen. Jeff Danielson, of Cedar Falls; and Reps. Dolores Mertz, of Ottosen; Art Staed, of Cedar Rapids; and Wes Whitead, of Sioux City, all winning another term in office by narrow margins.

Secretary of State Michael Mauro said final election figures showed that more than 1.5 million voters cast ballots in this year’s election, about 25,000 more than four years ago.

That gave the state a voter turnout of 72 percent, the same as the last presidential election. Mauro said 557,000 voters cast early ballots.

The turnout reflected voter interest that was high throughout the year, beginning with the state’s Jan. 3 precinct caucuses that launched the presidential nominating season. Both parties saw record turnout for the caucuses, where Democrat Barack Obama’s surprisingly strong win launched him on the road to the Democratic nomination and eventually the White House.

“These numbers show Iowans remained enthusiastic through the caucuses right up until the general election,” Mauro said. “More people participated in this election than any other in the past.”

The absentee ballot issue proved to be crucial for Democrats, who launched a far more aggressive absentee ballot campaign than Republicans.

Republicans conceded the Democratic edge proved decisive, and have pushed to sharpen their tactics.

“Republicans won on election day,” said outgoing House Minority Leader Christopher Rants, R-Sioux City. “Republicans lost when those votes that were cast a month earlier came in. If Republicans want to be competitive in the future, that has to change.”

The election cost Republicans two seats in the state Senate, and three seats in the House, and it cost GOP floor leaders in both chambers their jobs.