Luzerne County judges rule in 117th race challenges

A panel of three Luzerne County judges on Wednesday denied a petition from state Rep. Mike Cabell to count write-in votes cast in the April 23 Republican primary for the 117th District state House seat. According to reports, the panel also denied Cabell’s petition to reject one provisional ballot the election board accepted during its adjudication of primary ballots and also accept one provisional ballot — from his cousin — the election board rejected. Cabell, who is seeking reelection to a second term, trails challenger Jamie Walsh by three votes, 4,728 to 4,725, amid the legal battle, according to unofficial election results. The Luzerne County decision could be appealed to Commonwealth Court.