Hamtramck mayoral candidate to appeal court ruling leaving 37 absentee ballots uncounted

Hamtramck — A candidate who lost Hamtramck's mayoral election by 11 votes in November is appealing a Wayne County judge's ruling this week that 37 uncounted ballots in the race should not be tabulated, which — for now — upholds Adam Alharbi’s 11-vote win in the enclave of 28,000 people.

Wayne County Circuit Court Judge Patricia Fresard ruled Tuesday in a written decision that the Wayne County Board of Canvassers properly exercised its discretion under state law in not counting the untabulated ballots, which were found the day after the Nov. 4 election.

"In the present case, the Board of Canvassers concluded that the City Clerk failed to comply with mandatory requirements imposed to protect the integrity of ballots both during and after the election," she wrote.

Hamtramck City Clerk Rana Faraj discovered the untabulated ballots, still in their envelopes, in her office the day after the election and delivered them immediately to the Wayne County Board of Canvassers.




https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/wayne-county/2025/12/24/wayne-county-judge-rules-against-losing-hamtramck-mayoral-candidate-in-case-of-uncounted-ballots/87908332007/