Two absentee ballots found after a Tuesday election was called could change the winner of a Select Board seat in Clifton.
Clifton reported the results of its Select Board election Wednesday morning. Cynthia Grant was elected to a one-year seat, beating out Steve Armenia by just one vote, the town said.
But two ballots were found later that day, Deborah Hodgins, Clifton’s town clerk, said. The ballots were mistakenly put in a folder by a ballot clerk and not counted with the others, Hodgins said.
The two absentee ballots are still sealed and uncounted, Hodgins said, and could flip the election.
Clifton’s election has been contentious, with residents posting on social media against multiple candidates and an anonymous pamphlet against Grant being sent to residents last week. Before the election, every candidate said residents need to be less divided.
Some Clifton residents said they’re concerned the ballots weren’t counted on purpose or have been illegally cast, but Hodgins said there was no wrongdoing.
Misplacing the ballots was a mistake, Hodgins said. Camera footage from the town office was reviewed and showed the clerk setting down the folder that contained the two ballots, she said.
Hodgins has no concerns about bringing the ballot clerk back for another election, she said.
Stephen Wagner, an attorney with Rudman Winchell, advised the town to open the ballots and count them at a public meeting.
“Based on our review of applicable law and conversations with the Secretary of State’s office, we advise the Town to open and process the absentee ballots. The fact that this may change the result of one of the offices weighs in favor of the position that the ballots should be counted,” Wagner said in a statement posted by the town.
Town staff confirmed the ballots were properly cast for Tuesday’s election, Wagner said.
The sealed ballots will be opened at a meeting on Friday at 5 p.m.
Grant said she will attend the meeting. Armenia did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Updated results including the two uncounted ballots will be certified by the town, Wagner said.
If they choose to, candidates will still be able to call for a recount, Hodgins said. The five-day window in which a candidate can call for one will restart Friday when the new votes are cast, she said.
