A recount of votes for a disputed seat on Derry City and Strabane District Council is to take place this week.
It follows an Alliance Party legal challenge relating to the result of the Waterside ward in May's council election.The party questioned why its candidate was eliminated when there were still about 150 votes to be transferred.The Alliance Party lodged an election petition with Belfast High Court after John Cartwright, a self-confessed election enthusiast, alerted the party to the potential discrepancy.
He said he was scanning through the election results for Derry City and Strabane District Council when he noticed the issue and contacted candidates in the Waterside ward to raise his concerns. Alliance Party leader Naomi Long subsequently said she had it confirmed by both the council and the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland thatThe recount will take place in the Foyle Arena on Wednesday, starting at stage seven of the count.
The Alliance Party lost its only two councillors on Derry City and Strabane District Council - Rachael Ferguson and Mr McKinney - in the election in May.