Warren County Auditor Kimberly Sheets learned this morning that one package of a wrong ballot style had been included in ballot packages for Precinct Indianola 1. It’s been reported to the Auditor’s Office that a few voters had voted the wrong ballot style. The Auditor’s Office retrieved the incorrect ballot style package early this morning and confirmed that the correct ballot style was and is available. A few of the voters waited for the Auditor’s Office staff to arrive, the incorrect ballots were spoiled and they voted the correct ballot.

“There are checks and balances in place to confirm the right ballot style is used by voters at the polling sites. The Auditor’s Office, who assembles the boxes of ballots, equipment and other items needed for voting at the polls, mistakenly included the incorrect ballot style. One of the checks we use is requiring the poll workers to compare the ballot packages at the polling site to the ballot style number on the ‘Ballot Record and Receipt & Seal Verification Log.’ This step was missed with this particular ballot package,” Ms. Sheets said.

“We are sorry this mistake happened. We understand how important every person’s vote is, and we understand that voters are eager to cast their ballots,” Ms. Sheets said.