The error involves
the race for the District 5 seat on the county board of commissioners. A total
of 344 voters living in District 5 received ballots without the District 5 race
listed, while 147 voters living outside the district received ballots with the
District 5 race, for a total of 491 incorrect ballots.
Dale Barrett and
Lianne Thompson are the two candidates in the District 5 race. The district has
3,502 registered voters.
The error stems
from the redrawing of the board of commissioners district boundaries in 2011,
specifically voter Precinct 38 in Seaside. The redrawn lines placed part of
Precinct 38 in District 5 and the rest of the precinct in District 2. An input
error identified some precinct voters in the wrong commissioner district.
The error was
brought to the attention of the Clerk’s Office on Monday, May 19 by two voters.
As of Tuesday morning, a total of 42 erroneous ballots had been received by the
Clerk’s Office.
The error only
affects certain ballots for Precinct 38.
According to County
Clerk Maeve Grimes, candidates Barrett and Thompson have been contacted about
the error. Grimes said that after conferring with the Oregon Secretary of
State’s office, she is proceeding with the vote tally. If the margin between
the two District 5 candidates is less than the number of incorrect ballots
received she will formally contest the
election in court and seek a re-vote.
If the race is
contested, a judge would determine if another election would need to take
place.
Voters in District
5 who received a ballot without the District 5 race who have not already cast their ballots may request a provisional
ballot containing the District 5 race from the Clerk’s Office prior to the end
of voting at 8 p.m. Tuesday. Because the Clerk’s Office has begun processing
ballots, those who have already voted cannot obtain a provisional ballot.
If you are a voter
in Precinct 38 and believe you received a ballot that incorrectly omitted the
District 5 race, and have not already
voted, contact the Clerk’s Office at (503) 325-8511 or go to 820 Exchange,
Suite 210.
To view a detailed
map of the county commissioner districts, go to www.co.clatsop.or.us
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