Plainfield Township voters were met with an unexpected complication this week when a printing error caused hundreds of absentee ballots to be sent to the wrong precinct. As reported by FOX 17, incorrect color-coded stubs led to Precinct 9B ballots being mistakenly mailed to Precinct 9A voters, affecting approximately 3% of the township's registered voters. The Kent County Clerk's office took swift action, voiding the spoiled ballots and ensuring new ones were sent out immediately.
Despite the initial mishap, the authorities are confident that electoral integrity remains intact. “All affected voters will receive the right ballot immediately so they can cast their vote well ahead of Election Day,” Kent County Clerk & Register of Deeds Lisa Posthumus Lyons stated, as featured on WOODTV. She further stressed the importance of the safeguards in place: “This situation will not allow anyone to vote twice.”
The Township officials noted that the ballots had been correct during the proofing process, and an error occurred during the actual printing stage when the incorrect color-coded ballot number stubs were added, as mentioned in the WTKG news post. The ballots intended for Precinct 9B were erroneously mailed to voters registered in Precinct 9A due to this snafu.
Officials have advised those who received an incorrect ballot to either destroy it or return it to the township clerk's office where it will be destroyed by election workers. Clarifying the solution, Kent County reassured voters that the correct ballots, identifiable by a green color-coded ballot number stub and a new issue date, were on their way to the affected electorate. For further assistance or queries, voters have been directed to contact the Kent County Clerk's Office.
