"Election board discounts ballot in race"

By Jenna Portnoy, PhillyBurbs.com, November 10, 2009: "The Bucks County board ruled a provisional ballot cannot count in the race for Solebury supervisor, which is separated by one vote. The ruling was challenged. . . ."

"Solebury election result remains close"

By Jenna Portnoy, PhillyBurbs.com, November 8, 2009:

One is the loneliest number in Solebury, where a single provisional ballot could decide a supervisor's race.

Republican Ed McGahan bested incumbent Democrat Dennis Mankin by one vote, or 1,022 to 1,021, unofficial results show. Election workers on Friday reviewed the vote tallies from the township's four precincts, as Solebury officials and voting rights advocates watched.

The provisional ballot was cast in Solebury, although the voter is registered in New Hope, county elections director Deena Dean said. Commissioners, acting as the Board of Elections on Monday, will decide whether to take Dean's recommendation that the county should not count the voter's pick for supervisor. A public meeting is set for 2 p.m. at the courthouse in Doylestown.

But even after the provisional ballot matter is settled, Mankin could challenge an absentee ballot in which a voter checked his name, but then crossed it out in favor of the other candidate.

Board of Elections meeting, April 28, 2009

PhillyBurbs.com, April 29, 2009: "Board discusses ways to improve elections: Judges of election want to count absentee ballots before the polls close, force party loyalists to keep their distance from voters and allow early voting. . . ."