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 needs to be placed on maintain till the irregularities will be investigated.
Santosuosso’s push comes after the board final week introduced it had found 22 “potentially fraudulent” ballots solid within the GOP major — a discovering that would’ve been vital as ardent pro-Trump candidate George Sarantopoulos leads the race by simply 32 votes over Richie Barsamian, the Brooklyn Republican Occasion’s chairman.
The board says it has tossed these votes, but in addition revealed final week it’s not invalidating not less than two further ballots solid within the names of people who’re lifeless, although it did say it referred these findings to the Brooklyn district legal professional’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 workforce 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.”
Timothy A. Clary/Getty Photographs
Individuals 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 solid ballots Tuesday underneath smothering summer time warmth to decide on the possible subsequent chief of the most important 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. (Photograph by TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP) (Photograph by TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP through Getty Photographs)
Santosuosso, voicing concern there might 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 anticipated to be probably the most aggressive Council contests in November’s basic election, with many southern Brooklyn neighborhoods trending extra conservative lately.
Santosuosso is the chief counsel in Brannan’s authorities workplace and has his backing in her bid to succeed him.
Initially Printed: July 29, 2025 at 10:31 AM EDT
