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Montpelier council voids Article 12 after ballot print error; ballots cast for that article will not be counted
Summary
Council voted to void Article 12 because the printered wording was unintelligible; staff said ballots already cast on that article will not be recorded or reported and a special city meeting will likely be required to address the item later.
Montpelier City Council voted to void Article 12 on the upcoming ballot after officials concluded a printing error left the article's wording unintelligible.
City staff and council members said the error resulted from a mismatch between the city clerk's office and the printer. John Odom (city staff) told the council the wording on Article 12 as printed would be "unintelligible and meaningless," and advice to void the printed article was recommended. The council moved, seconded and voted in favor; meeting participants said the motion carried with aye votes and no recorded opposition.
Staff explained what voiding will mean for already cast ballots: ballots that have already been cast for Article 12 will not be counted or recorded, and ballots that pass through tabulators on town meeting day will be processed but not reported as Article 12 results. The city said it will likely post signage at polling places advising voters they do not need to vote on Article 12 and that a special city meeting will be required in the future to address the substance of the article.
Councilors did not specify a mover of the motion on the record in the transcript. The council asked staff to follow up on next steps to reschedule consideration of the question at a later date.
