A candidate for the Pickerington School Board was left off the ballot in error in Franklin County, according to the Fairfield County Board of Elections.
Candidate Charles Newman's name was not included on the ballots of 596 registered voters in Franklin County, according to a Facebook post by the Fairfield County Board of Elections. The school district covers both counties and has more than 11,000 enrolled students.
The Franklin County Board of Elections blamed Fairfield County in a statement Tuesday, saying the other county's board of elections did not notify Franklin County that Newman was certified.
The race is for three seats on the Pickerington School Board. Board member JD Postage is the only incumbent running in a crowded seven-candidate field.
Both counties said the error effects voters at five precincts who vote at the following three locations:
- Gender Road Christian Church
- Dayspring Community Church
- East Columbus Community Church
The boards said both took immediate action to remedy the situation. This includes confirming that all electronic ballots in the school district’s 43 precincts in Fairfield County are correct and include the candidate's name.
Franklin County is also immediately replacing ballots in these three locations with paper ballots that include all candidates’ names.
Franklin County has sent additional staff to these polling locations to assist poll workers.
"We will continue to work with the Franklin County Board of Elections to determine any additional actions that need to be taken to ensure that this situation does not occur in future elections," the Fairfield County Board of Elections said in a statement.
Newman has posted on his Facebook account several times on Tuesday to alert his followers about the error.
