Queens NY DA Primary Down to Affidavit Ballots and Automatic Recount Triggered

By the end of Primary Day, June 25th, Queens District Attorney (DA) Candidate Tiffany Cabán (D), supported by AOC, Lead Opponent, Current Term Limited Queens Borough President Melinda Katz (D) by a Margin of 1,090 Votes, or approximately 1% of the Total Vote.

An Initial Recanvassing of Machines Increased Cabán's Lead Slightly, turning Attention to the Approximately 6,000 Paper Ballots Outstanding, representing a combination of Absentee, Military, and Affidavit Ballots of Voters Not on the Voter Rolls for Democrats.

After Counting about 3,400 Absentee Ballots, Katz, in a Stunning Turnaround, had pulled ahead of Cabán by a mere 16 Votes.

The first days of July saw a hotly Contested Canvass of Affidavit Ballots which Totaled about 2,300, All but about 500 of which were Declared Invalid and Set Aside.

Lawyers for both Candidates were on the ground at the Board of Elections, along with Supporters from both sides, and Members of the Press.

The Twitterverse lit up, with Seasoned New York Election Lawyers and Experts attempting to temper Speculation and Misinformation.

Hanging above all of this, is the Passage of S3045/A1320 a, Substantial Compliance Bill, that Prevents Affidavit Ballots from being Disqualified for Small Technicalities.

Many Affidavit has the Party Designation Blank, it needed to say Democrat, as New York is a Closed Primary State.

The Bill was Passed by both Chambers in Albany during the just-concluded Legislative Session, and is Awaiting Governor Cuomo's Signature.

The Bill's Language says that it shall take effect Immediately, leaving Election Watchers curious about if the Governor will Sign amidst this Contest.

Team Cabán is being Represented by Veteran Election Lawyer Jerry Goldfeder, while Team Katz has Hired Frank Bolz.

Due to the Low Margin of 16 Votes, an Automatic Recount has been Triggered.

A Manual Recount of about 93,000 Ballots, from a possible 766,117 Active Voters, was underway as of Monday.

Further Rulings on Affidavit Ballots have been paused Pending the Conclusion of this Recount.

- Ballots to be Electronically Transmitted for Voters with Special Needs.









NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker