Jammed Marlboro voting machine opened, votes for NJ Dems found.

[fearnobush]

This plus the provisional ballots (If counted) should enable State Assembly member - Michael Panter to retain his seat. Monmouth Co. NJ is GOP haven, Panter and Morgan won the seats in 2003 in a upset victory over the GOP.

Marlboro voting machine opened, but outcome depends on provisional ballots

FREEHOLD — Monmouth County Board of Elections officials this afternoon cracked open a jammed voting machine from Marlboro to show that Democratic Assemblymen Michael Panter and Dr. Robert Morgan had received more votes than their challengers, Republicans Declan O'Scanlon and Jennifer Beck.

For that one district, Morgan received 121 votes; Panter, 110; Beck, 86 and O'Scanlon, 81.

It remains unclear, however, who the victors will be in the contentious 12th Legislative district. Unofficial election night results - which did not include the votes from the machine in Marlboro - showed Beck received 31,299 votes; O'Scanlon, 30,316; Panter, 30,099 and Morgan, 30,035.

Monmouth County Clerk Claire French said the county will not have official results until ""bags and bags'' of provisional ballots are counted. French and John Bradshaw, county superintendent of elections, said that official results will most likely not be ready until after this weekend.

<http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051109/NEWS/51109006>

[texpatriot2004]

1. So the election was in 2003 and they are just now opening up this

machine? Why now? I am glad that they are, I think more of them should be opened. What's the scoop here?

[fearnobush]

2. No, This happened yesterday. they upset the republicans in 2003 race.

Repubs have owned this county for decades, its slowly turning blue. The 2003 win of the Dems to the state assembly was a milestone.

[texpatriot2004]

3. So when did they open the machines and count the prov. ballots

was that yesterday too?

[fearnobush]

4. According to local paper "after this weekend.."

Some Good news, "The12th district Assembly race now appears to be between O'Scanlon and Panter, and neither side would concede defeat this afternoon."

Panter is one of the Dems declared as one of the losers this moring.

"Monmouth County Clerk Claire French said the county will not have official results until ""bags and bags'' of provisional ballots are counted. French and John Bradshaw, county superintendent of elections, said that official results will most likely not be ready until after this weekend.

The provisional ballots could also affect the outcomes of several local races, such as the borough council race in Eatontown and the township committee race in Holmdel.

The12th district Assembly race now appears to be between O'Scanlon and Panter, and neither side would concede defeat this afternoon."

<http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051109/NEWS/51109006>