Evidence in the marathon trial over alleged voter fraud in Paterson’s 2nd Ward election last year raised doubts about the validity of some of the mail-in ballots, according to the deputy state attorney general who is monitoring the case. In a 38-page legal brief, Deputy Attorney General Alan Stephens cited apparent violations in New Jersey’s vote-by-mail rules as well as instances in which people who were listed as voting through the mail-in process testified that they do not believe they cast ballots. But Stephens did not say whether he thought the problems were extensive enough to nullify a hotly contested election that Shahin Khalique won by a 1,401-1,381 margin over the incumbent, Mohammed Akhtaruzzaman.
That decision remains up to Superior Court Judge Ernest Caposela, who has scheduled a hearing in the case for Friday afternoon.
Back in September, when the trial started, Caposela called the case a “quagmire” and said, “We’ll be trying this case until next June.” But the case could go on longer than that, depending on what happens Friday.
The case had about 10 court sessions in September, followed by sporadic trial dates after that. The proceedings have been on hold, pending the submission of legal arguments by both sides, since March.
Full Article: State lawyer sees fraud in ’16 Paterson election.