NJ Judge Allows Absentee Ballots to be Counted

About 2,000 absentee ballots will be counted in the hotly contested Democratic primary in New Jersey’s 9th Congressional District.

A judge late Monday vacated an order by the Passaic County elections superintendent to impound the ballots after a lawyer for Rep. Steve Rothman complained about possible irregularities.

The Record newspaper reports the judge said Rothman’s campaign can inspect the ballots and the Board of Elections could start counting them.

Rothman faces Rep. Bill Pascrell in a rare incumbent vs. incumbent primary because New Jersey lost one congressional seat through redistricting.

The newly drawn 9th District includes parts of Bergen, Hudson and Passaic counties.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)