ACLU calls for manual recount in disputed primary

WPRI 12

Updated: Oct 1, 2012 5:58 PM

PAWTUCKET, R.I. (WPRI) -- The Rhode Island chapter of the ACLU has filed a petition on the behalf of Carlos Tobon, who ended up on the losing end of a contentious primary in Pawtucket.

The ACLU is asking the state Supreme Court to order the Board of Elections to conduct a manual recount in the District 58 Democratic primary between Tobon and incumbent William San Bento.

After a number of recounts, San Bento was declared the winner by only one vote.

The petition also calls for an audit of all mail and provisional ballots in that election to assure that each voter was qualified to submit a ballot.

In the petition, the ACLU states their belief that "no one can plausibly maintain any confidence in the accuracy of the official results of this primary."

A copy of the full petition is available on the ACLU's website at riaclu.org.

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