Tensions flare as candidates accuse each other of ballot tampering and "foul play" in a close California congressional race

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November 13, 2018 10:43 PM

The Los Angeles County Registrar's Office denied allegations of ballot tampering and intimidation of vote counters.

The 2018 midterm elections were one week ago, but tensions are heating up in several of the 10 House races that have yet to be called — including the contest for the open seat in California's 39th congressional district, which includes portions of Los Angeles, Orange, and San Bernardino counties.

On Monday, Republican candidate Young Kim saw her lead over Democrat Gil Cisneros narrow to just 1,957 votes as the mail-in ballots counted after Election Day have leaned heavily in Cisneros' favor. Kim, a former state assemblywoman and Royce aide, led by nearly 4,000 votes when the polls closed on Nov. 6th.

After initially accusing the Cisneros campaign of being "rebuked" by the Los Angeles Registrar and County Clerk's offices for alleged ballot tampering on Sunday, the Kim campaign took the allegations a step further after Cisneros gained more ground on Monday.

desperate, dangerous stunt to save face as her lead continues to shrink" in a Tuesday statement.

"Accusing your opponent of cheating just because you don't like the outcome may be the norm in Florida these days, but it won't fly in California," the group added.

Accusations of voter fraud and disagreements over procedures for counting overseas and provisional ballots have been an issue in a number of 2018 midterm races, including the recounts of the gubernatorial and Senate races in Florida.

In a Tuesday ruling, a judge in Florida found no evidence for claims of election fraud and illegal practices by local election authorities lodged by Republican Senate candidate Gov. Rick Scott and echoed by other Republicans, including President Donald Trump.

The judge also admonished both Democrats and Republicans to

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