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Council hopeful says woman worked as voting machine operator while running active write-in campaign.

A Swoyersville borough council candidate has complained in writing to the Luzerne County Election Bureau because a write-in opponent also worked as a voting machine operator on May 15.
Richard Kamus, who wrote the complaint, appeared on the primary Republican ballot in Ward 1 and won.
There were no candidates on the Democratic ballot, but it appears that Debbie Layaou received enough write-in votes to be listed as the Democratic contender in November. Layaou worked as a machine operator on May 15.
“I am challenging the legality of an election official working at the poll and running an active campaign,” Kamus wrote in his complaint.
He wrote that Layaou, while wearing her official election badge, was introduced as a write-in candidate to prospective voters outside the polling place entrance. She also left the polling place at least 10 times and spoke to those conducting her campaign, he wrote.
Kamus wants the county to eliminate any potential for impropriety by rejecting Layaou’s write-in nomination.
Layaou said she sought and received permission from a county Election Bureau representative to operate the machines while running as a write-in candidate. She said the office told her that it is OK as long as she does not campaign inside the polling place.
County Election Bureau Director Leonard Piazza said he is still researching the matter and can’t verify exactly what directives were given by his staff. While candidates who appear on the ballot may not operate voting machines, the rules are not as clear for write-in contenders because the county has no official way of knowing who will seek write-in votes or whose names will be spelled out by voters, he said. Piazza said he will respond to this and other election complaints by the middle of June.
Layaou, an incumbent councilwoman, said she originally planned to give up the machine operator post but changed her mind after another election worker had to receive hip surgery. Layaou said she left the polling place several times to smoke, but denies campaigning.
Layaou said she couldn’t get on the Democratic council ballot for the primary because part of her nomination paperwork was not notarized.
Kamus plans to attend today’s 9 a.m. county Election Board meeting.
Piazza said he doesn’t plan to discuss Kamus’ letter during today’s meeting because getting the primary election results certified is his top priority.
Much of today’s election board meeting will focus on requests from candidates to receive credit for write-in votes cast under variations of their names. As of Wednesday afternoon, Piazza received 23 of these requests from write-in candidates.