ALLENTOWN, Pa. (WLVT) - Enid Santiago isn't giving up her quest for a seat in the state House of Representatives.
Santiago, of Allentown, said Thursday that she has formally asked the Lehigh County Board of Elections to decertify the results in the 22nd House District primary election.
During a news conference outside the Lehigh County Government Center, Santiago said her campaign counted 29 more ballots than the actual number of people who voted in the Democratic primary. She said that's in addition to her allegations of voter fraud referred to the Lehigh County District Attorney's Office.
According to the county's certified results, Santiago lost to incumbent state Rep. Peter Schweyer by 55 votes.
Santiago called out Schweyer and said he needs to acknowledge and speak up about voting irregularities.
Schweyer said it's time for Santiago to give up the fight.
He said her calls to decertify the results have come too late.
"Ms. Santiago ran a spirited campaign and she came up short," Schweyer said in a prepared statement. "Nothing she has claimed since June 3 has changed that fact, and all she adds today is phony math.
"The truth is there were legal procedures available back in June if Ms. Santiago was serious about challenging the election returns. She simply chose otherwise.
"Our system is predicated on accepting the decision of the voters. Had Ms. Santiago bested me by 10, 50, 100, or more votes, I would have congratulated her and wished her well," Schweyer continued. "Ms. Santiago’s continued public posturing demonstrates that she is unwilling to accept the will of all of our neighbors."