What could have been a potential major problem at the polls for the Aug. 2 primary election in Cole County was discovered this week.
Cole County Clerk Steve Korsmeyer said they found there was a programming error with their poll pads. Poll pads are used in place of paper poll books to check in voters, see whether they have already received or voted a mail ballot and direct them to their correct polling place if they are in the wrong location.
"We had some voters that absentee voted receive incorrect ballots," Korsmeyer said. "It turned out the ballot assignment was wrong when the poll pads were programmed by our supplier, KNOWiNK. We are in the process of getting the programming issue addressed and making sure no else was affected."
The difference in ballots was for the Jefferson Township Committee Woman race.
"We are mailing ballots to all nine voters and asking them to vote the Jefferson Township Committee Woman race only," Korsmeyer said. "We will have our absentee team open and record those that sent their ballots back to us on Election Day."
Korsmeyer noted this was not the same problem found in the April municipal election where a scanner had doubled the ballot count and the votes for each race. He said that problem has been fixed.