Kerry Steelman briefs Election Commission members on last-minute ballot changes
Hamilton County Election Commission officials said Wednesday they got word from state officials on the eve of the Thursday election that certain district lines were drawn incorrectly.
Kerry Steelman, election coordinator, said it affects 325 voters.
He said 43 of those have already cast ballots in early voting. Mr. Steelman said that leads to the very remote possibility that a close race could be affected and there would have to be a new election for that race.
Mr. Steelman said the issue would have had no effect on voting earlier this year, including the County Commission contest that Greg Beck lost by 15 votes to Katherlyn Geter.
Election officials said new special ballots have been drawn up for the remaining 242 voters.
He said there will have to be three new precincts formed with just a handful of voters in each.
Mr. Steelman said he received a call about the issue after hours on Monday, but did not speak directly with State Election Coordinator Mark Goins until Tuesday morning - two days before election day.
Mr. Goins said the discrepancy in lines was found when the state was doing some voter reports.
He said it may have happened in 2013 or 2015 and was not designed to give any candidate an advantage.
The Election Commission, at an emergency meeting, approved the ballot changes, which were then whisked to the state for approval..