CONTESTED MT HOLLY ELECTION GOES INTO OVERTIME

2013 REFERENDUM FOR PARTISAN ELECTIONS GAVE VOTERS INSUFFICIENT NOTICE

Candidate Sayke Reilley lodged an application to appeal Judge Harrington’s order denying a run-off election for the 2024 Council race. Mr. Reilley’s attorneys argue that without an appellate hearing on the matter, there will be irreparable harm via “the premature determination that particular candidates won the November 5, 2024 township council election despite not receiving the statutorily required majority.”

The appeal application went on to say that “the court determined Mount Holly's referendum question regarding a switch to partisan elections in 2013 gave insufficient notice regarding potential consequences to run-off elections”. The request for an appeal explained that despite the ballot question error, Judge Harrington ruled that the passage of time “sanctified” the referendum results.

The application was granted by the Appellate court with the following conditions:

By no later than Tuesday, December 24, 2024 by noon, one copy of the motion for emergent relief must be delivered to the chambers of Judges Marczyk and Paganelli, and to all counsel/self-represented litigants.

It is expected that the appellate court will hear this matter very quickly, with a judgment likely coming before the January 5, 2025 “re-organization” meeting of Mt. Holly Council. It would be that meeting where newly elected council members would be seated, assuming the election results were certified. However, the appeal caused Judge Harrington to stay the election certification until the litigation is settled.