New steps to prevent election miscounts

The board is concerned about the cost of its computer company.

By D.A. WILKINSON

VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU

LISBON — The Columbiana County Board of Elections will create policies to make sure wrong information is not released.

During the May primary, the board overcounted some precincts which resulted in much higher figures in races. Those figures were given to newspapers and television stations.

The correct lower counts didn’t change the outcomes of contests and issues, with one exception. A police levy for St. Clair Township now appears to have won by three votes instead of losing. There will be a formal recount at 10 a.m. June 2.

Elections director Lois Gall had noticed the inflated figures after what are called “complete but unofficial” results were released to the media.

What’s to blame

Gall blamed a distraction for the multiple counting of memory cards from precincts.

“We need to cut down on the people who are in there,” she said.

She told the board that there were too many workers bringing election materials through the counting room on election night.

The people in the counting room may be limited to those who are counting the ballots, which is overseen by Gall, and board members.

Gall said she had “not heard anything” from the Ohio Secretary of State’s Office, which oversees elections, since the primary.

Jeff Ortega, a spokesman for the office, did not respond to calls.

Board member Alfred Fricano said he wanted to see a policy on how the printed results — given out several times on election night — are given to reporters.

There is no official announcement of results or on the progress of the counting. The elections board does not have a Web site, although other county offices do.

The paper reports given to the media and public have the time of the computer count and the number of precincts being counted. But as reporters and media come and go during the night, there is often confusion over the status of the count and of races.

Computer issues

The board also agreed with an opinion from the county prosecutor’s office regarding the board’s computer consultant, Election Systems & Software of Omaha, Neb..

The company charges the board $1,350 per worker, per day. The board normally has an ES&S worker in Lisbon about 10 days a year.

But the company wants the county to hold it legally harmless if the company makes a mistake.

The board said it agreed with the prosecutor’s office that shouldn’t be the case in light of the company’s high cost. Negotiations will continue.

wilkinson@vindy.com