The Board of Elections is ready to certify the outcomes of a Republican major for a Brooklyn-based Metropolis Council seat on Tuesday whilst allegations of voter fraud have loomed over the competition — infuriating the Democratic candidate within the race who believes issues ought to be placed on maintain till the irregularities may be investigated.
Santosuosso’s push comes after the board final week introduced it had found 22 “potentially fraudulent” ballots forged within the GOP major — a discovering that might’ve been important as ardent pro-Trump candidate George Sarantopoulos leads the race by simply 32 votes over Richie Barsamian, the Brooklyn Republican Get together’s chairman.
The board says it has tossed these votes, but additionally revealed final week it isn’t invalidating no less than two extra ballots forged within the names of people who’re useless, although it did say it referred these findings to the Brooklyn district lawyer’s workplace, which has launched an investigation.
Regardless of the poll irregularities and Santosuosso’s request for a pause, Vinny Ignizio, the BOE’s deputy govt director, confirmed Tuesday morning that the board would later Tuesday certify the forty seventh GOP major, saying his staff has “completed a comprehensive and transparent review of all valid ballots, including a full hand count.”
“The outcome of the race has remained consistent at every stage. In accordance with New York State Election Law, all valid votes have been properly counted,” Ignizio mentioned. “Our responsibility now is to certify the results and proceed with preparations for the general election in November. Any specific allegations of fraud will be handled appropriately by the district attorney’s office.”
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Folks vote at a polling location at Louis D. Brandeis Excessive Faculty on mayoral major election day within the Manhattan borough of New York Metropolis on June 24, 2025. New York Democrats forged ballots Tuesday beneath smothering summer season warmth to decide on the possible subsequent chief of the biggest US metropolis, somebody voters say should resist President Donald Trump and supply reduction to excessive prices of residing. With a few dozen candidates providing a variety of personalities and proposals, the race is an more and more tight contest between former governor Andrew Cuomo, 67, and state assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, 33, who has mounted a shock problem to the better-known however tainted frontrunner. (Picture by TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP) (Picture by TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP through Getty Pictures)
Santosuosso, voicing concern there may very well be extra fraudulent ballots within the combine that haven’t been detected but, blasted the board’s resolution.
“The Board of Elections is certifying an election that includes ballots from dead people,” she mentioned. “If Republicans actually believe their own hype about election integrity, they’d be standing with me demanding a real investigation before this election is certified.”
The campaigns of Sarantopoulos and Barsamian didn’t instantly return requests for remark.
The forty seventh Council District, which is presently represented by term-limited Councilman Justin Brannan, spans Bay Ridge, Coney Island and another neighboring southern Brooklyn areas.
The district is predicted to be one of the crucial aggressive Council contests in November’s basic election, with many southern Brooklyn neighborhoods trending extra conservative in recent times.
Santosuosso is the chief counsel in Brannan’s authorities workplace and has his backing in her bid to succeed him.
Initially Revealed: July 29, 2025 at 10:31 AM EDT
