Official Election Results Delayed by Impound Order

Rockland County waited until late Nov. 4 for unofficial general election results due to delays in getting the votes in from some polling places. 

The official results could take considerably longer. Last Tuesday, Judge Lewis J. Lubell of the New York State Supreme Court, County of Westchester ordered the impounding of all voting machines and ballots related to the election of the Supreme Court Justice for the 9th Judicial District, which includes Rockland, Westchester, Dutchess, Putnam and Orange Counties. Absentee ballots cannot be counted until the matter is resolved. Absentee ballots had to be postmarked Nov. 5, but they can still be counted if they are received by the Board of Elections tomorrow. 

Rockland County Elections Commissioner Kristen Stavisky said there will be a hearing Wednesday morning and there will be no new information until then. She said that 1,981 absentee ballots were issued to Clarkstown Residents and 660 were issued to Orangetown residents. 

With most local elections, the unofficial tallies make it clear who the victor will be already, but some are close enough to be decided by absentee ballots. In Orangetown, Republican challenger Walter Wettje, Jr. has 5,948 votes in the unofficial count to 5,912 for incumbent Democrat Andy Stewart. With only 36 votes separating the two candidates, a few hundred absentee ballots could still swing the election. 

"Based on the unofficial results, the election is too close to call and the candidates are separated by a handful of votes," Stewart said on election night. "We expect that the election will be resolved following a thorough examination of paper ballots and I am committed to making sure that all legitimate votes are counted."

"I just take it one step at a time," Wettje said. "It's competitive. I'm used to competition. We just have to hope for the best."

The fiercely contested Clarkstown Superintendent of Highways race came to a close finish in the polls. The unofficial count was 9,992 votes (50.64 percent) for Republican incumbent Wayne Ballard to 9,730 votes (49.31 percent) for Democratic challenger Dennis Malone.

With a difference of 262 votes between the candidates and more than 1,000 absentee ballots to be counted, Malone, who is the department’s fleet manger, said he has not formally conceded the race.

He acknowledged that absentee ballots usually go the same way as the election.

“We’ll see if that stands true,” said Malone.

However, with 1,294 absentee ballots yet to be counted according to Malone the final results could put one candidate significantly ahead of the other.

Malone said he is eager for the process and official count to take place.

“At this point, I’m just sick of hearing rumors,” said Malone. “Just count and get it over with.”

Absentee ballots were an issue in the Working Families primary election in September when the two candidates went to court. Malone received the most votes at the polls but Ballard garnered more absentee ballot votes and won the Working Families line in the general election.