Politics & Government

Candidates Eyeing Provisional Ballot Count Following Close Election

With only 11 votes separating second- and third-place finishers, Democrats say they'll challenge results

The Democratic candidates for Barnegat Township Committee are awaiting an initial count of provisional ballots from Tuesday's election after the close race resulted in a narrow divide between Republican incumbent Marty Lisella, who kept his seat, and Democratic challenger Michael Howard.

Preliminary results showed Democratic incumbent Len Morano was the top vote-getter in yesterday's election, with Lisella fewer than 100 votes behind him. But Howard trailed Lisella by only 11 votes, and the Democrats said they would challenge the results.

Barnegat Township Clerk Sharon Auer said that as of 10 a.m., the township was still conducting its first examination of the provisional ballots, but she said there were only about 7 or 8 collected at the 14 voting districts in Barnegat.

Find out what's happening in Barnegat-Manahawkinwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"To make everything fair and straight, you've got to finish what you started," Howard said. "As long as it's fair and square, I have no problem with (the results)."

The election results will not be certified by the county until Monday, said County Clerk Scott Collabella. If candidates desire a recount, they have until next Wednesday, Nov. 9 to request one in Superior Court.

Find out what's happening in Barnegat-Manahawkinwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Stay with Barnegat Patch today as we continue to wait for provisional ballot results and offer analysis on yesterday's vote spread.


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