DeFabio v. Gummer-Sheimer

The sole issue presented is whether the circuit court of Monroe County properly invalidated every ballot cast in a particular precinct, where none of those ballots contain the requisite initials from an election judge.

BACKGROUND

On November 5, 1996, the voters of Monroe County cast ballots to decide whether Julie Gummersheimer or Leonard DeFabio would serve as the county’s next coroner. Two days later, the Monroe County canvassing board declared Gummersheimer the winner by two votes.

DeFabio then filed a petition for election contest, alleging in pertinent part that the official election…