Ballot error forces recount in Akron

Associated Press

AKRON

Employees of an elections board in Northeast Ohio are counting about 8,000 absentee ballots by hand after it was discovered that an error was made when the paper ballots were printed.

The printer incorrectly lined up a section on issues on some of the Summit County ballots cast in the May 4 primary, making an accurate computer reading of the forms impossible.

The errors were found Wednesday, and workers seek to finish the hand count by Tuesday morning, when the board is to certify primary results.

About 35 Ohio counties use similar paper ballots.

Kevin Kidder, a spokesman for Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner, says the problem is “very uncommon.”

Summit County board Deputy Director Ron Koehler says any necessary printing corrections will be made before the November general election.

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