Wednesday, September 20, 2006

The City of Boston Election Department has asked the Secretary of the Commonwealth, William F. Galvin, to bring an appropriate lawsuit to insure that a complete vote count can be established in the Second Suffolk Senatorial District.

An Election Department examination of election materials indicated that tallies of write-in votes were inadvertently omitted in 8 precincts within the district, specifically, Ward 4, Precinct 9, Ward 10, Precinct 9, Ward 12, Precincts 1 and 2, Ward 14, Precincts 3, 8 and 9, and Ward 19, Precinct 3. [emphasis added]

Under state law, ballots are sealed after an election and may not be opened without a court order.  The purpose of the lawsuit is to obtain an order that will permit the City to complete the count in the effected precincts.