Gloucester GOP heads back to appellate court

Superior Court Judge Benjamin Telsey signed a court order today rebuffing a bid to force new ballots in Gloucester County, paving the way for a state appellate court to consider whether to force County Clerk James Hogan to reprint ballots Telsey found to be illegal.

Despite his determination that Hogan’s newly designed ballots didn’t follow state law, Telsey declined to order a reprint because he felt it would potentially confuse voters.

The Republicans want an immediate injunction and an order that Hogan prepare legal ballots with columns, not office blocks, for in-person early voting and Election Day on machines.

“There is sufficient time to program the in-person machines with a lawful ballot design before October 25, but only if the court acts immediately,” said Josiah Contarino, the attorney for the GOP candidates and county organization.

Yesterday, Appellate Court Judge Greta Gooden Brown rejected the appeal, stating that Telsey had not yet issued an order following the ruling he made on Friday.