Edgardo Cruz scores a judicial victory in his battle for the mayor of Guánica

The San Juan Court of First Instance today, Wednesday, issued a petition for the dismissal of the Popular Democratic Party (PPD) and the State Elections Commission (CEE) in the lawsuit filed by the candidate for direct appointment to the office of the mayor from Guánica, Edgardo Cruz.

Cruz has filed an appeal in court to challenge the decision of the President of the EEC, Francisco Rosado Colomer, in which he does not award votes cast in his favor by direct nomination because the voter does not mark the rectangle with an X on it. had marked the ballot. of the course corresponding to direct nomination.

“This court declares the dismissal requests submitted not to be effective. Consequently, the appeal for judicial review is brought presented by Mr. Edgardo Cruz Vélez, ”said Judge Anthony Cuevas’ verdict.

The judge argued that while the voters who voted for nomination did not mark the rectangle, “The direct nomination vote is distinguishable from the other types of voting because the issue requires the voter to write the name of a person who is not a candidate.”

“The essence of this type of vote is the nominee’s name, so its validity cannot depend on whether there is a brand next to it,” emphasized the judge.

This court ruling means that if there is only one day left until the end of the year and without the general check being completed, the EEC will have to rethink the suitcases with election material from the Guánica Mayoral Race to find the votes. which Cruz disputed. .

At the time, the EEC had declared the PPD candidate, Ismael “Titi” Rodríguez Ramos, the winner by just 24 votes.