3rd Ward Council Race Results Contested In Ocean City

OCEAN CITY, NJ — Ocean City had an extremely close 3rd Ward Council race during the election on May 14, with incumbent Jody Levchuk beating challenger Amie Vaules with 402 votes to her 400. Now, Vaules has announced she is formally contesting the vote count.

"This decision has not been made lightly and is based on my deep respect for the process and my personal commitment to ensuring the integrity and transparency of our electoral process," Vaules said in a statement on Tuesday, adding that "this is about making sure everybody's vote counts."

Vaules said the following factors contributed to her decision:

Extremely Narrow Margin of Victory: The election results were incredibly close, with only a two-vote margin separating the candidates. It has come to light that two mail in ballots were not counted and were properly postmarked in late April. A third vote is contested based on the address of the voter not living or ever living at the address filed with the board of elections.
Voter Concerns: I have received numerous reports from voters who have expressed concerns about potential discrepancies and irregularities at the polling stations. It is our duty to address these concerns seriously to maintain public confidence in our elections.
Significant Increase in Mail-In Ballots: There were an unusually large number of mail-in ballots casts, with significantly different outcomes as compared to election day ballots. This discrepancy warrants a closer examination to ensure all ballots were handled and counted properly.
Transparency and Fairness: Executing my legal rights to contest the vote count in this extremely close election is critical to upholding the principles of fairness and transparency that are the cornerstones of our democracy. By ensuring every vote is accurately counted, we reaffirm our commitment to these values.
Legal and Procedural Integrity: Our election laws provide for the right to contest under circumstances such as these. Utilizing this provision is not only a right but a responsibility to guarantee that the electoral process is carried out with the utmost accuracy.

"I extend my gratitude to the election officials, volunteers, and all those who have worked tirelessly throughout this election period," Vaules said. "We ask for your patience and understanding as we undergo this process to ensure every vote is rightfully counted."