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

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

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 said 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 said.

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

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Spangler said 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.