LAWRENCE COUNTY Oops! Name misspelled on ballots

Officials said there isn't enough time to get new ballots before the election.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR NEW CASTLE BUREAU
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Anthony Mangino Sr. wants everyone to know his name -- even if it's misspelled.
The Democratic candidate for Lawrence County sheriff learned this week that his first name is incorrect on nearly 30,000 ballots that have been printed for Tuesday's election in Pennsylvania.
In what is an apparent typographical error, his first name appears as "Antnony."
"We noticed it [this week] when one of the folks who got an absentee ballot reported it," said Ed Fosnaught, Lawrence County commissioner and election board member. County election officials have had the ballots for about two weeks.
Here's the problem: Fosnaught said they checked into reprinting the ballot but found it logistically impossible because the ballot paper comes from Iowa and they are printed in Denora, Pa.
"We wouldn't have them until Sunday or Monday, and we wouldn't have enough time to get them to the polls. We've already started delivering ballots to the 106 polling places," Fosnaught said.
Initially, Mangino said he wanted new ballots, but when officials explained the problem, he agreed to a compromise.
What's being done: The county election office will advertise its mistake in several area newspapers, including The Vindicator, explaining the error, Fosnaught said. The advertisement also will carry an apology to all three candidates seeking the Democratic nomination for sheriff, he said.
Mangino's opponents are Frank Zona and Charles Adamo.
Mangino says he's happy with the plan.
"I really think the voters will understand what it means when they read the misprint. I hope the voters will understand. I think it might even help me," he said.
The advertising will cost the county election board about $3,000, Fosnaught said.
cioffi@vindy.com