A rat is being blamed for about a 30-minute delay in reporting the returns of the May 2 Hamilton County primary election.
Shannon Defriese of the election office said she tested the modems on the ballot counting equipment about five minutes before the polls closed. She found that some of the modems were not working. Then she said she noticed rat urine and droppings inside the election equipment.
"The rat urinated over a majority of the modems. I'm afraid a couple of them were destroyed," Ms. Defriese told the Election Commission on Monday.
But she said enough of the equipment remained working so that the counting of the ballots was able to proceed.
Ms. Defriese said she had tested the modems a few days earlier. She said, "In no way was I prepared for us having a rodent problem just before the election returns were to come in."
She said she has not seen a rat around the office.
An exterminator was called in the office at Fourth and Georgia Avenue to put down some sticky strips, but the rat remains at large.
A new election office is being built at the Centre South Riverport on Amnicola Highway, but officials said it won't be ready in time for the August election.
The move-in date is now set for Aug. 17.
Officials said if there are any more delays, the November election might also be held at Fourth and Georgia.