Uddin Gets First Spot on Ballot
Thursday, October 4, 2012 • 4:26pm
PATERSON, NJ - As a result of a drawing held by the City Clerk's Office on Thursday, Zalal Uddin received the first slot on the ballot in the special election for the 2nd Ward City Council seat.
Sonia Torres got the second spot, Aslon Goow the third, Maidul Islam the fourth and Mohammed Akhtaruzzaman the fifth.
The special election became necessary when Goow filed a successful lawsuit challenging Akhtaruzzaman's eligibility in the May election. A judge ruled last month that Akhtaruzzaman's voter registration was invalid and that he should not have been allowed to run.
So far, there have been no formal challenges on Akhtaruzzaman's eligibility for the special election. He has filed an appeal of the decision nullifying his victory on the ground that he filled out a new form with the county election office in August 2011. A hearing on that appeal is scheduled for Oct. 12.
As part of that appeal, Akhtaruzzaman is asking that he be put back on the council until the litigation is resolved, a request if granted that would eliminate the need for the special election.
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