Multiple errors mean primary ballots to be reissued in Boise and Garden City districts
Ada County is reissuing primary election ballots in two legislative districts after it became aware of errors that appeared on them.
In District 16, which encompasses the Garden City area, Democrat Nancy Harris, who was a U.S. Senate candidate, appeared on the ballot even though she has withdrawn from the race, according to a press release. In District 17, which is in western Boise, the race for State Representative, Position B was messed up. The Democratic ballot showed both Democratic candidate Sue Chew and Republican candidate Anthony T. Dephue, while the Republican ballot showed no candidate in the race.
In District 16, 1,073 voters received the ballot with Harris still listed, according to the Ada County Clerk’s Office. In District 17, 1,086 voters were issued the incorrect ballots.
“We regret the impact that this has on the candidates in these races and any confusion that this has caused for voters. We are acting quickly to remedy the mistake,” said Phil McGrane, Ada County clerk, in the release. “In a primary election like this, we have 717 unique ballot types and we have been working around the clock to shift our operations to accommodate the changes in this unique all-mail election.”
Ada County has temporarily stopped issuing ballots to the precincts that are affected, McGrane said. Beginning Monday new ballots will be issued to the affected voters.
While mail-in voting has always been an option for Idaho voters, it is the only option for this primary. The change was in response to the spread of the coronavirus — the Idaho Secretary of State’s Office did not want to have people gather at polling places in crowds.
Ada County began mailing ballots on Monday, April 13, and has issued 15,436 total ballots to date. Voters have until May 19 to register to vote and to request a mail-in ballot if they have not received one. Ballots must be in to county clerks’ offices by Tuesday, June 2, and results will be released starting at 9 Mountain time that night.
