Downe requests recount on liquor license ballot question

The Cumberland County township of Downe requested a recount in a referendum that would have allowed town officials to issue a liquor license. 

Downe has no liquor licenses, and residents voted to keep it that way (pending a recount) and rejected the question in a 255-277 finish, a 52%-48% result. Downe Mayor Michael Rothman filed testimony in support of the recount, saying several voters were turned away because of malfunctioning voter machines and were not properly informed of their right to cast provisional ballots.

“I am aware of several residents who had difficulty registering their votes on the ballot question due to malfunctioning voting machines and due to the absence of emergency ballots and conditional ballots or due to failure of such ballots being offered in lieu of working machines,” Rothman wrote.

In a filing, the township of Downe listed two voters who they allege were unable to cast their ballot on the referendum. If rejected, a similar proposal cannot be put on the ballot for another five years.

The case will go before a judge next week.