This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.

Maltese Files Suit Against Town for Alleged Election Improprieties in East Haven

Salvatore Maltese, the Democratic candidate for East Haven mayor in the Nov. 7  election, has filed a civil suit against the town of East Haven and officials for alleged improprieties during the election.

According to a Court Order from Judge Richard Burke, a hearing is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 17 at 9:30 a.m. at the Superior Court in New Haven. All voting machines, ballots, and absentee ballots used in the East Haven election will be impounded until further order of the court.

The ballots cast in the election will not be examined, unlocked, or otherwise inspected until the hearing on Nov. 17.

Defendants in the case are the Town of East Haven, Connecticut Secretary of State Denise Merrill, Mayor Joseph Maturo, Jr., Town Clerk Stacy Gravino, Democratic Registrar Albert Fucci, and Republican Registrar Donna Norman.

The complaint filed by Maltese's attorney, Edward Marcus of the Marcus Law Firm in North Branford, calls for the court to order the town to schedule a recanvasing, review, and recount of the ballots for the general municipal election for mayor held on Nov. 7.

The complaint alleges that Gravino rejected an unknown number of absentee ballots and has not expressed reasons why those ballots were rejected. It alleges that Republican Town Committee (RTC) Chairman Robert Parente worked the polling place of District 5 until 6:20 a.m., which the complaint alleges is a violation.

Also alleged is that tallying of the absentee ballots occurred without a moderator or registrar from the Democratic Party, a recount was not offered.

The alleged discrepancies and irregularities incurred during the absentee ballot process, improprieties in monitoring and reviewing of ballots without a Democratic Party representative, impropriety of the RTC Chairman, and machine problems resulted in a number of questionable votes made and recorded in the general election, according to the complaint.

Among things the plaintiff (Maltese) is seeking are that no candidate for the position of mayor be recognized before the case is resolved, that the Town Clerk recanvasing and recount of ballots be ordered by the court with two officials from both political parties and/or their attorneys present (including the absentee ballots disqualified from voting), and that any irregularities, defects, omissions, or challenges be reported to the court.