POSTED: 10:44 p.m. PST November 21, 2002
UPDATED: 11:07 p.m. PST November 21, 2002
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- The Kern County elections department gave voter information to Republicans Thursday as Dean Gardner continues to try and to cut into Democrat Nicole Parra's slim lead for the 30th District Assembly seat, KERO reported.
The Gardner camp was given the names, addresses and phone numbers of the 388 voters who cast provisional ballots, according to KERO 23. Gardner said that he is looking for evidence of possible voter fraud, including whether any voters cast two ballots.
But he doesn't have much time to make a case. Election officials plan to begin counting the ballots Friday morning and Gardner must have any challenges in by then, according to KERO 23.
However the outcome, local officials said that the conflict between Gardner and Parra has been bad for the system. As of Thursday afternoon, the Secretary of State's office had Parra in the lead by 177 votes, KERO 23 reported.