RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - A federal judge has refused to order that 55 absentee ballots be counted in the election of a member of the Virginia House of Delegates.
The Washington Post reports Judge Claude Hilton said Friday in Alexandria that while the ballots that arrived the day after the Nov. 7 election were late, he saw no evidence of improprieties.
The election in Stafford County has Republican Robert Thomas ahead of Joshua Cole by 82 votes. Cole’s campaign argued in a lawsuit that the ballots were late because of post office problems and should be counted.
The Virginia House Democratic Caucus said in a statement that the ruling was disappointing and the caucus is assessing its options.
The Stafford County race is one of three that may be headed for a recount.
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