State Board of Elections Rejects Hundreds of Invalid Signatures
news release issued by Constantino campaign
EDINBURG, NY — Blake Gendebien’s attempt to secure an Independent line in the NY-21 congressional election was derailed Thursday when the New York State Board of Elections rejected hundreds of invalid signatures on his petition
The unanimous decision leaves Gendebien well short of the 3,500 valid signatures required to qualify for an Independent ballot line. He will now appear only on the Democratic line in November.
Meanwhile, Republican Anthony Constantino — fresh off a record-shattering victory in last Tuesday’s primary — will run on two lines: the Republican line and the Taxpayers Rights line. Constantino’s supporters collected 9,280 signatures to secure him a spot as the Taxpayers Rights candidate in NY-21.
Constantino’s elections attorney, Joe Burns, praised the Board’s decision:
“The SBOE staff did a thorough review of the objections and unanimously agreed with exactly what we found: the petition contained hundreds of invalid signatures,” Burns said. “Their decision to invalidate the petition is the right one and exactly what we expected.”
Burns continued:
“Only 3,500 signatures are required to qualify for an independent nomination. The fact that the candidate was unable to meet the legally required minimum number of valid signatures demonstrates how little actual support he has in the 21st Congressional District.”
The Board’s decision marks the latest victory for Constantino, who shattered records in NY-21 by delivering the highest vote total in district history. Constantino received 26,594 votes with 95 percent of election districts reporting, surpassing the previous 20-year record set by former U.S. Rep. Mike McNulty (D), who received 26,246 votes in the 2006 Democratic primary.
ABOUT ANTHONY CONSTANTINO
Anthony Constantino is the Trump-endorsed frontrunner to succeed Elise Stefanik in New York’s 21st Congressional District and the founder and CEO of Sticker Mule, a global company headquartered in New York with over 1,000 employees. He put the Vote for Trump sign atop his tallest factory building after endorsing President Trump to his 5 million customers. He also compiled a 2-1 (2 KOs) professional boxing record after going pro for his 40th birthday.