Court: Fayette judge of elections can't conduct hand count at polling site

Fayette County sheriff’s deputies will be on call in Fayette County to escort election officials responsible for taking ballots to the courthouse in Uniontown after polls close tonight.

Common Pleas Court Judge Linda Cordaro issued a court order requiring Washington Township judge of elections Vincent Manetta to follow state law and immediately return election materials to the county after that precinct closes.

According to a court filing earlier in the afternoon, Fayette County Elections Bureau Director Marybeth Kuznik said Manetta intended to delay taking the ballots to elections officials so he could do his own hand count of votes at the polling site.

Kuznik argued state law does not allow ballots to be counted at the precinct.