WFHB Bloomington Community Radio
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Monroe County Election officials are verifying ballot tabulations in the Monroe County Council District 2 race. After voting closed on November 6th, an error was discovered in the program that reads the data collected from ballot scanners. The program was reading the race as under-voted.
Republican board member William Ellis explained voters are meant to cast one vote in the county council candidate. But the program was reading the race as if voters were supposed to cast three votes, like in a township board race, for example. In addition, if a voter voted for both candidates, both would have gotten the vote. Ellis spoke in last night’s Monroe County Election Board meeting.
Ellis said election officials wanted to make sure straight party ballots were not affected, because straight party voters still have to cast individual votes in vote-for-three races. A test conducted during last night’s election board meeting revealed no problems.
According to Ellis and Monroe County Clerk Nicole Browne, Hart Intercivic has taken full responsibility for the error.
Allowing for time for the judicial order to come back, Wheeler said it could be mid to late December before a recount is completed..
But she said the candidates understand a recount won’t change the race’s outcome. By the current count, Democrat Kate Wiltz received more than six thousand votes over her Republican opponent Ann Collins.
