Ohio Secretary of State: Clerk didn’t err accepting absentee ballots

A Mahoning County Board of Elections clerk didn’t violate state law when accepting absentee ballots that may have been illegally submitted, according to the Ohio secretary of state’s office.

The board doesn’t have the authority to refuse absentee ballots from anyone, the office’s elections counsel wrote in an email to the board.

Sources say Danielle O’Neill is the clerk who took absentee ballots from Danny Morgan, who lost the May 3 Democratic primary ballot for a Struthers council-at-large seat.

Morgan’s submittal of the absentee ballots remains under investigation by the county sheriff’s department.

Also, the board certified the results of the May 3 election.

The closest race was the Western Reserve Fire District’s 1-mill additional levy winning by 22 votes. None of the races are subject to an automatic recount.

For the complete story, read Tuesday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com