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One of the strangest, most unpredictable leadership races in recent Canadian political history can wrap up Saturday as planned, a judge ruled Friday after hearing a last-minute request to extend the vote by a week.

Justice Todd Archibald rejected arguments that the outcome to be announced Saturday – and the resulting new Tory leader – would be illegitimate because many Tories were unable to cast electronic ballots.

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Archibald acknowledged that some members have been disenfranchised, but said the balance of convenience in the case “dramatically favours” the party and its plans.

“One more week without a leader impacts every member of the Progressive Conservative party of Ontario,” he wrote. “The convention would have to be rescheduled and perhaps relocated if I were to extend the voting period. The PC leadership campaign would be further postponed.”

Plagued by glitches, the voting officially ended at noon Friday, and the results are scheduled to be announced Saturday afternoon.