A Bridgeport judge has rejected an attempt to delay next week's election for mayor.

Judge Barry Stevens ruled against a new primary after questions arose about the validity of the absentee ballots. The judge said although absentee ballot abuse clearly occurred, the impact was not enough to change the outcome of Ganim's 270 vote win and justify a do-over.

Mayor Joe Ganim won the race against fellow Democrat Marilyn Moore, thanks to absentee ballots that people mailed in ahead of time.

However, nearly a dozen voters testified that they had cast absentee ballots even though they didn't qualify for them and others testified that someone else signed their ballot applications.

Although the judge didn't overturn this primary, he said Connecticut's absentee ballot system is rife with abuse, and urged state lawmakers to overhaul it.

There is a State Elections Enforcement Commission investigation into the absentee ballots. It doesn't have the authority to order a new primary, but it could still uncover illegalities and abuses.

According to attorney Prerna Rao, the plaintiffs connected to the Moore campaign will file an emergency appeal with the Connecticut Supreme Court. The court is not required to take the case.