Reading Election Recount Case

Opinion by

Mr. Justice Eagen,

On September 25, 1962, a special referendum election pursuant to the Optional Third Class City Charter Law (Act of July 15,1957, P. L. 901, 53 P.S. §41101 et seq.) was held in the City of Reading, Pennsylvania, to determine whether or not a Council-Manager Plan of government should be adopted in that city. Paper ballots were used to submit the question to the electorate and more than 28,000 votes were cast. The final result, as indicated by the open returns, gave a plurality of 99 votes against the adoption of the plan.

Subsequently, petitions were filed with the…