This story was updated Saturday to include an announcement regarding voter fraud concerns.T

Results in two races in Saturday's municipal elections could be delayed because of ongoing concerns that mail-in ballot fraud could impact the outcomes.

Dallas County elections administrator Toni Pippins-Poole announced early Saturday that every mail-in ballot application, every mail-in ballot and every provisional ballot must be authenticated by hand "pursuant to instructions provided by the Dallas County District Attorney's Office."

The effort is intended to "ensure that voters do not lose their right to vote" to fraud, Pippins-Poole announced.

"Due to the process required to process and authenticate the submitted mail-in ballots, and the applications for Ballot-by-Mail for the May 6, 2017 Joint Election, the reported election-night results on May 6th will not contain 100% of the ballots cast in this election," Pippins-Poole wrote.

City Secretary Rosa Rios said in an email to council members that the mail-in ballots in Districts 2 and 6 have been sequestered by court order. Anyone who voted by mail will be allowed to cast a provisional ballot in person. The county will review the ballots after the polls close.

The Dallas Morning News reported this week that senior citizens in West Dallas, which is in City Council District 6, and Grand Prairie have had an individual come to their homes, falsely represent he is with the county and then procure mail-in ballots that many of them said they never ordered.

Other districts also had large numbers of mail-in ballots. In the race between Lee Kleinman and Candy Evans, 22 percent of early votes were cast by mail-in ballot, according to the county.

Kleinman said Saturday morning his campaign sent a vote-by-mail piece, targeting registered "older voters who may not be able to vote easily." He said voting by mail is "just a convenience thing" in his district.

Annette and Steve Perkins, both 70, are among dozens of potential victims of voter fraud this election cycle. Steve holds the ballot he received in the mail at their home on Thursday, April 27, 2017 in Grand Prairie, Texas. They both received Dallas County ballots in the mail that they did not request. Gloria filled it out and left it on her doorstep for the mailman. But she found out later that someone might have fraudulently tampered with it, because the county elections office said someone marked himself or herself as a witness on her ballot as "Jose Rodriguez" but she doesn't know anyone by that name. The same name has been appearing on elderly people's ballots across West Dallas and Grand Prairie this election cycle, prompting concerns of widespread voter fraud. (David Woo/The Dallas Morning News) (David Woo / Staff Photographer)

He was unaware of the county's statement when reached Saturday morning.

"I am just happy to see the county is making sure the ballots are valid," he said. "That's fine. I will do anything I can do help to them. I am not troubled in my district, but it's troublesome in District 6 and others with heavy mail-in ballots."

Mayor Pro Tem Monica Alonzo, who represents District 6, said the mail-in ballots are "a major concern." She said Saturday she's appreciative of the county's efforts to ensure people's votes are counted properly.

"We wanted to make sure if my grandma and grandpa want to go vote, that they have that right," she said.

The competitive council races usually have low turnout, which makes even small instances of voter fraud a significant concern.

This year, they're especially competitive. Eleven of 14 City Council races are contested this year. Some include big-spending challengers and crowded fields of candidates.

But knocking off a sitting council member is no easy task. Only two incumbents have been defeated in the last five election cycles — both by north Oak Cliff council member Scott Griggs.

This election could be different with two former council members in the fray and others hoping to capture support. Other than the voter fraud concerns, here are five story lines to follow after the polls close at 7 p.m.

1. How much will wealthy donors influence the race?

The deep-pocketed political action committee For Our Community has put its stamp on the election. A recent campaign finance report revealed the group has spent nearly $200,000 this year and still has almost $200,000 in the bank.

Saturday's results could show whether their efforts were effective.

The group has been helping a slate of candidates this year: challenger Matt Wood and incumbents Tiffinni Young, Alonzo, Erik Wilson and Rickey Callahan.

Many of the group's donors and political operatives have ties to Mayor Mike Rawlings, who has denied any contact or coordination with the group. But the mayor's longtime friend, Tom Karol, is now the group's treasurer, and his former campaign consultant Mari Woodlief is running it.

2. The main event

The council campaign season has been highlighted by a big-money District 14 race between council member Philip Kingston and East Dallas lawyer Matt Wood.

The district tallied 3,572 early votes — more than any other council race.

Wood says he is running largely because of Kingston's combative tone, which he said hurts the district. For Our Community has aided Wood with anti-Kingston and pro-Wood mail ads touting the challenger's efforts to bring "positive change."

But the group's efforts also support Kingston's narrative of the race and have helped galvanize supporters and raise plenty of cash.

The incumbent has pitched himself as a champion of neighborhoods who rocks the boat to fight backroom deals and self-interested North Texas business elite. And Kingston believes a go-along-to-get-along approach won't be effective in the consequential district that includes Uptown, East Dallas, Bryan Place, downtown, Knox-Henderson and part of Oak Lawn.

3. Wild West Dallas

West Dallas has rapidly changed in recent years, but will voters there change their council member?

In her bid for a fourth term, Alonzo is trying to fend off five challengers in District 6, which also includes part of northwest Dallas. The race has been dominated by fears of gentrification forcing out longtime residents.

Omar Narvaez, who has Kingston's support, appears to be a top challenger. Political newcomer Alex Dickey has garnered support as well.

But a result may not be clear Saturday. The race has been marred by allegations of mail-in ballot fraud, and a large number of provisional ballots could mean the results are delayed.

1 / 7City Council member Philip T. Kingston is seen during the Board of Trustees meeting at Dallas Police and Fire Pension System in Dallas, Thursday, Oct. 13, 2016. (Jae S. Lee/The Dallas Morning News)(Jae S. Lee / Staff Photographer) 2 / 7Matt Wood, candidate for Dallas City Council. He is facing council member Philip Kingston who is seeking a third term and is known as an indefatigable campaigner. Matthew Wood is a lawyer and East Dallas neighborhood advocate who headed the city's bid for the 2024 Summer Olympics. Wood already has the endorsement of former Mayor Ron Kirk 3 / 7Candidates for Dallas City Council District 6, clockwise from top left, Monica Alonzo, Tony Carrillo, Gil Cerda, Linus Spiller, Omar Narvaez, and Alex Dickey. 4 / 7Dallas council member Tiffinni Young photographed Thursday August 6, 2015 at Dallas City Hall. Her district is City Council District 7. (Ron Baselice/The Dallas Morning News) 08082015xPUB(Ron Baselice / Staff Photographer) 5 / 7Dwaine Caraway, the former acting mayor and longtime city council member announces that he is running for his old council seat in the lobby of City Hall in Dallas Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2017. (Guy Reynolds/The Dallas Morning News)(Guy Reynolds / Staff Photographer) 6 / 7Dallas Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Erik Wilson speaks during a presentation for the community to see the future of the mall formally known as Redbird Mall on Jan. 7, 2017, at Southwest Center Mall in Dallas. (Andrew Buckley/Special Contributor)(Andrew Buckley / Special Contributor) 7 / 7Dallas City Council member Tennell Atkins talks as he stands by the Dallas executive airport runway as he gives the Dallas Morning News reporter and photographer a tour around the airport in Dallas, TX on October 3, 2013. (Kye R. Lee/The Dallas Morning News)(Kye R. Lee / Staff Photographer)

4. Back to the future

Tennell Atkins and Dwaine Caraway left the Dallas City Council in 2015 because of consecutive-term limits. They both hope to win their old seats back in tough races Saturday.

Caraway is running against council member Carolyn King Arnold, whom he supported in 2015. The one-time acting mayor has tussled with Arnold over her approach and a deck park over Interstate 35E that he supports and she opposes.

Atkins has outspent Wilson, the deputy mayor pro tem, in their southeastern Dallas district. But Wilson has had tens of thousands of dollars in help from For Our Community.

5. Election encores

Dallas could get another month of campaigns in races where no one gets more than 50 percent of the vote. For instance, the five challengers running against Young, an incumbent, are hoping they can get to a runoff. The West Dallas race has that potential as well.

The runoff election is scheduled for June 10. New council members will take the oath of office nine days later.

City columnist Robert Wilonsky contributed to this report.