The Executive Council voted Wednesday to approve the pardon of a man convicted of resisting arrest during an incident at a Newmarket polling place in 2014.
Former Newmarket GOP Committee Chair Joe Barton's conviction stemmed from an altercation he had with an investigator from the Attorney General's office during the general election.
Barton had allegedly made verbal complaints about a voters eligibility at the poll.
At a hearing last week, Barton said he believed his arrest was politically motivated.
Counselor Andru Volinsky voted against the pardon and called it a "rank political move."
"It represents the worst in government to give advantages to people who show no remorse, who take no responsibility and whose factual allegations go unchecked," Volinsky said.
Barton has contended that the pardon does not represent special treatment.
The council voted along party lines to approve the pardon.
