Three dozen voting machines to be rechecked
By: Lea Kahn
A ruling by Mercer County Superior Court Judge Linda Feinberg Friday afternoon paved the way for three dozen voting machines to be rechecked in the Lawrence Township Council election.
The recheck of the 36 voting machines could take place as early as next week, said Democratic Party candidate Mark Sebastian. He attended the Friday afternoon court session in Trenton.
Incumbent Republican Township Councilmen Mark Holmes and Rick Miller, and Democratic candidates Michael Powers and Mark Sebastian, petitioned the court for the recheck by the Friday deadline.
Judge Feinberg did not grant a petition request by Mr. Holmes and Mr.
Miller to include absentee ballots that arrived at the Mercer County clerk’s office after election day, Nov. 6. State law does not allow for absentee ballots to be counted that arrived after election day.
The candidates sought the recount because of the close vote tallies. Mr. Miller received 4,259 votes and Mr. Powers received 4,176 votes, making them the winners for the two available council seats. Mr. Holmes trailed Mr. Powers by one vote, receiving 4,175 votes. Mr. Sebastian came in fourth place with 4,171 votes.
This is not the first time that a recheck has been sought in this election.
Mr. Miller and Mr. Holmes asked for a recheck of one voting machine in District 7. A recheck of that machine generated 100 additional votes apiece for the two Republicans.