The New York Board of Elections (BoE) has Dropped its Appeal against a Ruling that Reinstated Thousands of Invalidated Ballots from the State’s Problem-Plagued June 23rd Primary.

On Friday August 7th, the Co-Executive Directors of the BoE sent word to Local Election Boards to begin Canvassing the Absentee Ballots that met the Requirements laid out in the Court Order. Earlier in the week, Manhattan Judge Analisa Torres Ordered All Absentee Ballots with Missing Postmarks that were received Two Days after the June 23rd Primary be Counted.

Ali Najmi, a Queens Election Lawyer who worked on the Lawsuit prompting the Ruling, noted earlier in the day that Attorney General Letitia James also Declined to Appeal the Decision. “Thank you Tish for standing with the voters and ensuring these votes will be counted as soon as possible!” he tweeted.

The Election Mess and Postmark Problems arose after Gov. Cuomo (D) Signed an Executive Order Expanding the Eligibility for Absentee Ballots to Include Anyone with COVID-19 or who Feared Contracting the Virus.

Local Boards of Elections were Ordered to Distribute Absentee Ballot Applications to All Eligible Voters, some of whom did Not Receive their Ballots in time for the Primary.

Election Officials then Invalidated Thousands of Votes Missing Postmarks or Postmarked after the Primary Date, Leading to the Lawsuit filed on behalf of Suraj Patel, who Challenged Incumbent Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-12th District), for the Second Time, after Losing their last Election. Maloney led Patel by 3,762 Votes.

Although the City Board of Elections has Certified Election Results, Patel said he will continue to Fight for More Ballots to be Counted in the Race and does Not Plan to Concede the Race to Maloney.

The Final Results for the 12th District:

CAROLYN B. MALONEY - 32,380

SURAJ PATEL - 23,981

LAUREN ASHCRAFT - 6,395

PETER HARRISON - 2,276










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker