A candidate for the open judge position on the Butler County Court of Common Pleas had her request for access to absentee votes denied following a hearing Tuesday afternoon.
Judge Kenneth Valasek, formerly a judge with the Armstrong County Court of Common Pleas, ruled against the request made by the legal representative of Jennifer Gilliland-Vanasdale.
Vanasdale asked that her lawyer be given access to the 633 absentee ballots which were already received and counted and added into the results of last week’s election. After hearing from both sides, Valasek said any candidate or representative of a candidate had the opportunity to be present while absentee votes were tallied but any request to see those ballots moving forward would amount to an informal recount.
According to how the judge interpreted the election code, the only recourse for Vanasdale would be to request a formal recount. Following the hearing, her lawyer said that decision would be made by Friday.