DECATUR, Ind. (AP) — A Republican-controlled election board has kicked a Democratic mayoral candidate off the ballot in northeastern Indiana.

The Adams County Election Board voted 2-1 along party lines Tuesday to disqualify Daniel Rickord as the Democratic nominee for mayor of Decatur. That decision leaves Republican Mayor Kenneth Meyer unopposed in November's city election.

The (Fort Wayne) Journal Gazette reports Republicans maintained that Rickord failed to declare his candidacy in writing before the state's June 30 deadline to fill the ballot spot after no Democrats ran in May's primary.

County Democratic Chairwoman Barb Engle argued the necessary paperwork was submitted to the county clerk before a different July 3 deadline. She called the challenge to Rickord's candidacy "a political game" to prevent a contested mayoral election.