This town supervisor race was tied on Election Day. A court decision has named the winner

The last outstanding election in Orange County was settled in New York State Supreme Court on Friday, as a judge counted one vote toward the Republican candidate for Wallkill town supervisor.

Election night closed with incumbent George Serrano, a Republican, tied with his Democratic challenger, Town Councilman Neil Meyer, at 1,900 votes apiece. A hand recount of the ballots put Serrano ahead by two votes, with three votes disputed between both parties.

Of those three, both parties agreed outside of court that one ballot, which was folded and slightly torn, would be counted as it was marked, as a vote for Meyer.

In court Friday morning, Judge David S. Zuckerman found the second ballot, on which a voter had marked the box with Serrano's name with an "X" rather than filling in the corresponding bubble, in favor of Serrano.

The third ballot showed a filled-in bubble for Meyer's name, but a write-in candidate had also been written in boxes along the Democratic line – write-in candidates are supposed to be written in a separate box at the foot of the column. That ballot was thrown out.

“We will respect this decision, as unfortunate as it may be for us,” Orange County Democratic Chairman Zak Constantine said.

More: Wallkill supervisor race is still a tie, but some votes are being challenged. What we know

“What is abundantly clear is that George Serrano will not begin his second term with a mandate from voters. Wallkill residents expect more from their local officials, and Democrats will do more to present our vision for local leadership over the next two years.”

Though the judicial process allows for either party to appeal the decision, Constantine said Meyer would likely not seek relief from a higher court.

“We will keep the town happenings under a microscope as we continue in our fight for transparency,” Constantine continued.

In a statement, Meyer said he was proud of his campaign and is still considering the next steps in his political future, as his eight-year stint on the Wallkill Town Board comes to a close at the end of the year.

“In the meantime I remain available to any Wallkill resident in need of assistance, and I will continue to advocate for greater transparency and accountability, even after I leave office at the end of the year,” he said.

Serrano and the chair of the Orange County Republican Committee did not return requests for comment Friday.

This article originally appeared on Times Herald-Record: Wallkill town supervisor decided after court decision — by one vote