Inspection of Votes Filed Via Affidavit Fails to Change Outcome of Port Chester Elections

An inspection of ballots cast via affidavit on Election Day in Port Chester has failed to change the outcome of any of the races.

With all the ballots counted, however, candidates in the two-way race for mayor and the race between 10 candidates for six trustee seats have until 5 p.m. today to ask for a recount in the election.

While the 24 affidavit ballots did change the candidate totals, they did not have any impact on the mayor's race, in which incumbent Democrat Dennis Pilla was defeated by Republican challenger Neil Pagano, 1,593 to 1,256. Also, the addition votes counted today did not change the outcome in the trustees race, in which incumbent Bart Didden was ousted from the village Board of Trustees.

Unofficial results from election night showed Didden trailing incumbent trustee Joseph Kenner by 31 votes. The updated tally has Didden finishing seventh by 33 votes. Didden said this afternoon said he is considering his options and would not confirm whether he would request a recount of the votes.

Here's the updated tally for the election, in which about 24 percent of Port Chester's registered voters participated:

Mayor

Neil J. Pagano 1,593 (W)

Dennis G. Pilla 1,356

Trustee

Luis Marino 2,937 (W)

Daniel U. Brakewood 2,504 (W)

Gene Ceccarelli 2,147 (W)

Saverio Terenzi 1, 822 (W)

Gregory Adams 1,657 (W)

Joseph D. Kenner 1,632 (W)

Bart Didden 1,599

Francis Ferrara 1,590

Ricardo Dos Anjos 1,168

John W. Reavis Jr. 443

Affidavit ballots are filed by voters at a polling place when their is a question about their voter regisration. Using this format, the voter can still cast a ballot but it is kept separate from other ballots until elections officials can confirm the voter is indeed properly registered.