High Court judge Mira Dean-Armorer has dismissed five election petitions filed last year by the United National Congress (UNC) challenging the results of the 2015 general elections in five marginal constituencies.
The UNC challenged the Elections and Boundaries Commission's (EBC) decision to extend the voting time by one hour to facilitate voters in Trinidad due to inclement weather.
The original petitions challenged the results of six marginal constituencies, La Horquetta/Talparo, Toco/Sangre Grande, Tunapuna, St Joseph, San fernando West and Moruga/Tableland after the UNC's 23 to 18 defeat.
One of the petitions, for La Horquetta/Talparo constituency, was struck out because it was served too late.
Dean-Armorer ruled that the EBC did overstep their statutory remit by extending the hours, however, she felt they acted genuinely and in the interest of the voting population.
The judge said she could not invalidate the polls based on EBC overstepping its boundaries as the result of the elections was not materially affected by the decision to extend the hours.
Doing basic math, Dean-Armorer, subtracted the number of voters who voted between six and seven pm from the People's National Movement candidates in the five constituencies represented in the petition and the result showed that the People's National Movement (PNM) party would have still won.
The UNC is likely to challenge the judge's decision before the Appeal Court, which has final jurisdiction on election petitions.