Vanasdale lawyer files petition
Jennifer Gilliland Vanasdale mounted another elections result question Wednesday.
Her attorney, Sean Logue, filed a petition on Vanasdale's behalf to stay the election's certification until the Bureau of Elections “list(s) all of their various mistakes and other irregularities.”
The petition includes an affidavit from Mary Lou Kephart of Butler Township. She votes at the South Butler Fire Hall and said she had voter machine problems.
“I went to vote for the primary election and despite being a registered Democrat, my ballot came up as Republican,” Kephart's written testimony reads. “I notified three election officials at the precinct to report this error, but it was not corrected when I left the voting precinct. I want to ensure my vote was properly recorded as a Democrat for Jennifer Gilliland Vanasdale.”
Besides Kephart, Vanasdale told the Eagle that she received another report from a voter using a provisional ballot who encountered problems.
A hearing is expected to be held Thursday to address the petition.
Unofficial election results showed Vanasdale losing the Democratic nomination by six votes. The election bureau submitted those unofficial results Wednesday for final certification. Pennsylvania law allows such challenges for five days after that submission.
Elections bureau director Shari Brewer said, “I'm confident that this office is doing its job properly and correctly.”
