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Delaware County mistakenly adds candidate to ballot that isn’t running

By Stephanie Wiechmann, IPR News | Published on in Government, Local News, Politics
Voters in two of Delaware County's 98 precincts choose the Union Township trustee. (Lauren Chapman / IPB News)

The Delaware County clerk’s office is correcting fall election ballots in two precincts, because they include a person who never filed to run.  IPR’s Stephanie Wiechmann explains.

 

Current Union Township trustee Vickie Walburn of Eaton was elected four years ago.  Now, she’s told local media that she’s 76 years old and doesn’t want another term as trustee.  That’s why she didn’t apply to run again.

But Walburn still appeared on this fall’s ballot.  When she pointed it out to county clerk Rick Spangler, he says the mistake came from his office.

“We use a series of templates when we rebuild each election.  In this template, somehow through the process, this Vickie Walburn did not get taken off.”

Spangler is working with MicroVote to correct paper ballots and reprogram voting machines to remove Walburn’s name.  He says between 35 and 50 people voting early and by absentee ballot saw the mistake.

Indiana Voter Guide: Being an Informed Voter

Spangler says MicroVote tells him any votes Walburn might get will not show in election results, since she is not a legitimate candidate.

Only one candidate actually filed to be the next Union Township trustee – Republican Donald Chambers, Jr.