LIVINGSTON COUNTY — Polls in the Livingston County Republican and Conservative primaries are closed, but a potential snafu in two polling locations apparently resulted in votes being counted for the wrong Party. Depending on the resolution, the contest could be over.
According to Jason McGuire, Conservative Party Chair, his sources have informed him that in two polling locations, in Caledonia and Geneseo, a total of 59 ballots for the Conservative party were given to registered Republicans. In effect, those 59 votes were counted in the wrong party’s election.
“It looks like 59 Conservative Party ballots should not have been issued to Republican voters.” McGuire said. “They should have been Republican Ballots.”
McGuire added that he is still waiting to speak with the Livingston County Board of Elections to confirm the exact number of votes they believe to be incorrect and the specific locations where the errors took place.
As of Tuesday night, prior to the discovery of the ballot discrepancy, on the Republican line investigator Thomas Dougherty was in the lead by 157 votes with 91 absentee ballots not yet returned to the Board of Elections. In order for those ballots to be counted they must be post marked by Sept 10.
On the conservative Party Line prior to the discovery, Undersheriff Jim Szczesniak was in the lead by 1 vote, with 3 absentee ballots not yet returned to the Board of Elections.
“I don’t know how they are going to sort this out.” McGuire said. “You can’t just drop the results of voters.”
Given the one-vote margin on the Conservative line, the shift of those 59 ballots to the Republican line would have no effect on the Republican outcome, but could conceivably change the outcome for the Conservative party. If the Conservative nomination goes to Dougherty, who already seems to have the Republican line secured, the election is effectively over. There are no other candidates for the November general election, as Democrats have not nominated a candidate for Sheriff.