Jul 9, 2009 2 min read

A Fairchance man wants a state appellate court to hear his petition asking that the Fayette County Election Bureau be ordered to recount votes in an election he lost. Robert “Ted” Pritchard Sr. has claimed that, because he received no votes in two precincts in his bid of magisterial district judge, people may have impersonated voters who were dead, infirm or had moved away. Last month, Fayette County Judge Gerald R. Solomon dismissed his motion to force a recount.

In the May primary, Pritchard ran for magisterial district judge against incumbent Magisterial District Judge Randy Abraham and Senior Magisterial District Judge Brenda Cavalcante.

Abraham bested both on the Democrat ticket, and defeated Cavalcante on the Republican ticket as well, virtually assuring a victory in the fall. Pritchard did not cross-file, and only appeared on the Democrat ballot.

On the Democratic ticket, Pritchard, who has run for other offices over the years, received 63 votes. Abraham received 3,012 votes and Cavalcante received 970 votes. In two of the 19 precincts that encompass that district, Pritchard received no votes, and has claimed that the only way that could occur is if there was voter fraud.

Additionally, Pritchard ran for constable in Fairchance, and also lost that race. He has also said he believes that there may have been problems with that race.

In an order entered earlier this week, the Commonwealth Court justices indicated that the case would be decided on briefs, and there would be no oral argument in the case.