Lever missing on machine for Utica 4th Ward candidate

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WKTV News

Story Created: Nov 3, 2009 at 1:33 PM EST

Story Updated: Nov 3, 2009 at 1:33 PM EST

UTICA, N.Y. (WKTV) - There was a gaffe in Utica today that may cost one candidate the common council's fourth ward.

Russell Pelli says he got calls from both his father and friends saying that the actual lever for people to pull for him on a ballot machine had been left off.

He says it was off for about four hours until he went to check and the lever was back on the machine.

Pelli says election officials have apologized for the error but says that's too little too late, especially those who helped his campaign, " "I'm not saying anything illegal was done but that's a serious flaw and one that should not have occurred. A lot of people worked very hard for me and I owe it to them."

Pelli says he's contacted the board of election and they tell him that nothing can be done but adds he'll be pursuing the matter further.

Kathy Perez of the Oneida County Board of Elections says that they were notified of the problem at 9:50 Tuesday morning and that the issue was fixed in less than 20 minutes, including the time it took the custodian to get to the voting site.

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