Memphis, Tenn. ? A federal judge on Wednesday blocked the state Senate from voiding a disputed special election that was narrowly won last fall by the sister of an indicted former senator.

Democrat Ophelia Ford’s attorney filed a motion earlier in the day in U.S. District Court in Memphis and received word later that the judge had issued a restraining order.

On Tuesday, a special committee of the Senate voted 17-14 to void the Memphis-area election Ford won in September. The resolution was scheduled to be voted on today on the Senate floor.

Ford was declared the winner of the seat held by her brother John Ford until he was arrested on federal corruption charges last year. She received 4,333 votes, while Republican challenger Terry Roland garnered 4,320 in the Sept. 15 election.

Roland and his supporters contend that convicted felons and nonresidents of the district were allowed to vote. They have described 146 votes as improper. The Commercial Appeal newspaper, meanwhile, has found two ballots cast in the names of dead people.

There have been no allegations that Ophelia Ford did anything wrong.