On the side

By David Skolnick

DISQUALIFIED VOTERS: Of the 2,399 people who voted provisionally in Mahoning County, 439 were disqualified. The 18-percent disqualification rate isn’t anything out of the ordinary compared to other counties in the state in last month’s election or much higher than previous elections in Mahoning County.

Of the 439, nearly all were disqualified because voters weren’t registered or cast ballots in the wrong precinct.

But there were a few unusual reasons for disqualifications.

Twenty-two envelopes that were supposed to have paper ballots inside them were empty. That happened primarily because pollworkers incorrectly placed the ballots in a lock box rather than in the envelopes, elections board officials say.

Also, one voter was disqualified because he died.

The person voted at the elections board office prior to the primary and then passed away before the March 4 election. If he died on the 4th, his vote would have counted. [Also, if he was from Chicago, or had voted years ago in Mahoning County, this wouldn’t have been an issue.]

skolnick@vindy.com