---
title: "Judge Rules Mahmood Eligible, Orders Hamtramck Ballots Certified"
url: https://www.heredetroitmi.com/2026/10/31/judge-rules-mahmood-eligible-hamtramck-mayor-certify-ballots/
date: 2026-10-31T07:09:31-04:00
modified: 2026-10-31T07:09:31-04:00
author: "Melody Magana"
categories: ["Politics"]
site: "HERE Detroit"
attribution: "HERE Detroit"
---

# Judge Rules Mahmood Eligible, Orders Hamtramck Ballots Certified

> HAMTRAMCK, Mich. — Hamtramck appears headed for a new mayor after a Wayne County Circuit Court judge ruled Friday that challenger Muhith Mahmood lives in the city and is eligible to hold the office. Judge Kathleen M. McCarthy also directed the Wayne County Board of Elections to certify a ballot count that includes 37 absentee

*Source: [HERE Detroit](https://www.heredetroitmi.com/2026/10/31/judge-rules-mahmood-eligible-hamtramck-mayor-certify-ballots/) — October 31, 2026 by Melody Magana*

HAMTRAMCK, Mich. — Hamtramck appears headed for a new mayor after a Wayne County Circuit Court judge ruled Friday that challenger Muhith Mahmood lives in the city and is eligible to hold the office.

Judge Kathleen M. McCarthy also directed the Wayne County Board of Elections to certify a ballot count that includes 37 absentee ballots left out of the original results. When those ballots were finally tallied Oct. 16, Mahmood led incumbent Adam Alharbi 2,089 to 2,077.

Alharbi won the December 2025 election and has served as mayor since January while the fight played out. The disputed ballots were set aside after the city clerk at the time raised concerns about a break in their chain of custody, and the county canvassing board split 2-2 on whether to count them.

At a hearing Thursday, McCarthy turned down a request from Alharbi’s side for 30 more days to gather evidence that Mahmood actually lives in Troy, and she also denied a motion from Mahmood’s lawyer to dismiss the case. Questions about where the former council member lives date back to at least April 2025. McCarthy found the evidence did not support overturning his residency.