In re Contest of 2003 General Election for the Office of Prothonotary of Washington County

OPINION OF THE COURT

Justicé NIGRO.

Appellant Phyllis Ranko Matheny appeals from the order of the Commonwealth Court which reversed the December 22, 2003 order of the Court of Common'Pleas of Washington County dismissing Appellee Judith Fisher’s petitions to open the ballot boxes in nine election districts in Washington County. For the reasons that follow, we reverse the Commonwealth Court’s order.

Matheny and Fisher were candidates in the November 4, 2003 election for the Office of Prothonotary of Washington County.1 An unofficial calculation of the election returns conducted on election night…