City council race certified again after lost ballots counted

FAIRMONT, W.Va. (AP) - A West Virginia city council election has been certified again after 57 lost ballots were counted.

The Times West Virginian reports Marion County commissioners voted Wednesday to certify the results after the results of two Fairmont City Council races changed. County Commissioner Randy Elliot said Tuesday was the deadline to request a recount for other seats and no one did.

Marion County officials found the uncounted ballots in early December in one voting machine. A judge ruled in January to decertify results so the lost ballots could be counted.

County Administrator Kris Cinalli has said the ballots were likely lost due to a mixture of human and mechanical error.

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Information from: Times West Virginian, http://www.timeswv.com