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UPDATED:A Board of Elections-appointed inspector has found the District 18 Voting Machine jammed on Larry Delgado’s Line 10A sometime on Election night. Steve Schoengold, in attempting to clear the Delgado counter wheel back to zero, could not do so, in an official examination of the voting machine ordered by Judge Francis A Nicolai Tuesday morning. (See exclusive photos of the historic inspection.)
The inspection conducted Tuesday afternoon, lent strong credibility to what Mr. Delgado and the Republican party have contended from Election Night, that Mr. Delgado lost over 100 votes because of a voting machine malfunction.
This raises the possibility of a runoff election between Mr. Delgado and Glen Hockley in District 18. The judge said, prior to the inspection, that he would not order a new citywide election.
The inspection conducted Tuesday afternoon, lent strong credibility to what Mr. Delgado and the Republican party have contended from Election Night, that Mr. Delgado lost over 100 votes because of a voting machine malfunction.
Runoff likely in District 18
The finding of a “jam,” raises the possibility of a runoff election between Mr. Delgado and Glen Hockley in District 18. The judge said, prior to the inspection, that he would not order a new citywide election, and would not arbitrarily adjust the canvas in Mr. Delgado’s favor, but Judge Nicolai indicated he favored a runoff election.
Inspection being documented
As of 4:30 PM Tuesday, Diane Lundin, Principal Law Clerk for Judge Francis A. Nicolai of New York Supreme Court, was supervising a court recorder who was taking the tesimony of Steve Schoengold, the official inspector who discovered the jam.
DELGADO LINE 10A JAMMED AT 39:Close-up snap of the Delgado Line, after Steve Schoengold, official BOE technician attempted to clear the line to zero Tuesday. Snap shows the Delgado counter (second from upper left) frozen at 39, (it appears blank in the picture) while other counters surrounding it are at “00” WPCNR PHOTO.
Schoengold said he had attempted to clear line 10A back to zero and could not do so, saying it was jammed at 39, exactly the total of votes for Mr. Delgado canvased from the machine Election Night.
INSPECTION IN ACTION: Steve Schoengold, official BOE technician attempts to clear the Delgado counter line to zero Tuesday and cannot budge the rollers that turn the plastic numerically- encoded counter wheels. At this point, attorneys for both Delgado and Hockley had the Democratic Deputy Board of Elections Commissioner contact Judge Francis Nicolai’s office for instructions.WPCNR PHOTO.
“Suspected Jam” Confirmed
Because the machine mechanics could not be tested as directed by the judge, without removing an entire part of the machine, a court recorder was summoned to record the official finding of a “jam.”
JUDGE, WE HAVE A JAM: Democratic Deputy Commissioner Jeannie Palazola of the Board of Elections is seen calling Judge Nicolai’s chambers for instructions on how to proceed, after the Delgado counter wheel is found to be immobile at the “39” count. Glen Hockley looks on with concern in the background. Palazola was told by Judge Nicolai’s Law Clerk that the clerk would be arriving with a Court Reporter to take testimony that the voting machine was jammed. WPCNR PHOTO.
At 3:35 PM, the jam was discovered, and the entourage then waited approximately 55 minutes until the Law Clerk arrived with an official reporter to document the testimony of the inspectors.
JUDGE NICOLAI’S PRINCIPAL LAW CLERK DIANE LUNDIN SUPERVISES court reporter setting up prior to taking testimony documenting the inspection at 4:45 PM. WPCNR PHOTO.
COURT REPORTER, SEATED, TAKES DEPOSITIONS, prior to expected court session Wednesday morning.WPCNR PHOTO.
The attorneys and candidates, Larry Delgado and Glen Hockley, now expect to convene in Supreme Court Wednesday morning at 10 AM to proceed with what Mr. Delgado calls, “the remedy process.”
Delgado-Hockley “Runoff” in District 18 Likely
In ordering the inspection Tuesday morning, Judge Nicolai said he would not arbitrarily assign 100 votes to Mr. Delgado, giving him a victory over Mr. Hockley. Instead, the judge indicated he would call for a runoff election in District 18 between Mr. Delgado and Mr. Hockley.
Malmud and Roach are “In.”
Ms. Malmud and Mr. Roach, had been informed by the Judge Tuesday morning their votes would stand regardless of the result of the inspection, effectively clearing the way for the certification of their election by the Board of Elections. The request was made by Ms. Malmud’s and Mr. Roach’s attorney, Alan D. Scheinkman, and the judge ruled accordingly that it would be a “gross injustice” to Malmud and Roach to have them on any runoff election ballot, since their positions, in Judge Nicolai’s opinion would not be changed by any runoff vote.
SMILING WIDELY, LARRY DELGADO LEFT COUNTY COURTHOUSE AT NOON HAVING WON THE INSPECTION. Councilman Larry Delgado is shown leaving the Westchester County Courthouse Tuesday at noon, with his aid-de-camp, Mike Amodio, minutes after Judge Francis Nicolai ordered inspection of the District 18 voting machine.WPCNR PHOTO.
The judge said under no circumstances would he call for a citywide revote.