By Chris Basinger, Staff Writer
ST. CLAIR COUNTY, Ala.–Corrected ballots have begun to arrive at polling places across St. Clair County after a ballot error was caught by poll workers this morning.
The ballots were affected by a misprint that left multiple proposed amendments off the ballot.
Ballots in Leeds, Moody, and Argo have been affected.
There have been no issues reported on the ballots in Springville.
Long lines are expected at polling places affected by the misprint.
According to Probate Judge Andrew Weathington, the first round of corrected paper ballots have begun to arrive at the affected polling places as of 1:45 p.m.
About 200 corrected ballots are expected to be delivered to the affected polling places every 30 minutes as they are printed.
Following an order from St. Clair County Circuit Judge Phil Seay, polling places where the misprinted ballots were delivered will remain open until 9 p.m.
Voters must be in line by 9 p.m. to vote.
The affected polling places include Ashville City Hall, Argo Town Hall, Wattsville VFD, Celebrations, New London VFD, Wolf Creek VFD, Boys & Girls Club, Cook Springs Baptist Church, Moody Civic Center, Cropwell Baptist Church, Prescott Baptist Church, New Hope Baptist Church, Whites Chapel Town Hall, and Cedar Grove Baptist Church.
The ballots were reportedly not inspected until they were opened by poll workers this morning.
Is is unclear if there is a state or local law preventing the physical ballots from being examined by election officials before election day.
According to the probate office, all of the misprinted ballots that have been submitted will be counted.
As it currently stands, people who voted on the incorrect ballot will not have an opportunity to revote on a corrected ballot.
It is unclear if they will be given an opportunity to do so in the future.
Earlier today, Probate Judge Andrew Weathington said, “Upon opening the polls this morning, upon the poll workers getting there at 6 a.m., getting started, some of our inspectors opened their first round of ballots to find that some of the ballots did not have the local amendment and the constitutional amendment that were printed on the back of the ballot. At that point we notified our vendor, our printing vendor, at that point we notified the secretary of state along with all of our local officials who are aware. We’re working diligently to get new ballots printed and we have people down there right now waiting on them, as soon as they’re printed coming back. We are working on signing a petition to extend the hours of voting tonight for the precincts that were affected by this so please stay in touch. When we get that information we will forward it on.”
Until the new ballots were delivered, voters were having to use the ExpressVote system available for special needs voters, causing longer wait times.
According to the probate office, the error was made by the company that printed the ballots–Election System & Software.
It is not currently known how many printed ballots were affected.
The ballots affected by the misprint left off Statewide Amendment 1 and Local Amendment 1.
Statewide Amendment 1 would grant certain sixteenth section and indemnity school land that is owned in fee simple by the Franklin County school system.
Local Amendment 1 would specify that only the qualified electors of St. Clair County who are served by the St. Clair County Board of Education may vote for the county superintendent of education and the members of the county board of education and change the Pell City Board of Education from an elected to an appointed board.
A statement from Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen read, “My office is aware of the issue in St. Clair county. However, all ballots are proofed, inspected, and approved at the local level by the office of the county probate judge and then the county’s selected vendor prints the ballots. That process is not something the Office of the Secretary of State has any jurisdiction or authority over.”
This story will be updated when more information becomes available.
A sample ballot from St. Clair County which includes both Statewide Amendment 1 and Local Amendment 1 can be viewed below:
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