Madison County delays full certification after miscounts in Walnut precinct; administrative audit planned
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Summary
Madison County election officials removed Walnut precinct ballots from initial certification after discovering tally errors and signature/affidavit problems; an administrative audit is scheduled and the county plans to reconvene to certify contests once the review is complete.
Madison County election officials on Tuesday told the Board of Supervisors they will not certify results that include ballots cast in the Walnut, Ohio precinct after an internal canvass revealed counting irregularities and unsigned affidavits.
Elections staff reported that an administrative audit of Walnut precinct ballots is required because of a discrepancy in the tally for several contests. “We can’t certify any of the ballots cast in the Walnut, Ohio precinct,” the elections official (speaker 6) told the board, recommending the county certify an amended canvas that removes the Walnut precinct results until the audit is complete.
Auditor Michelle Brandt (speaker 5) said the county will conduct an administrative recount and audit on Thursday and expects to reconvene Thursday evening to certify races not affected by the Walnut precinct. She described tabulator malfunctions at two polling places, where aging rubber rollers melted and required emergency procedures, and said poll workers followed contingency plans to secure ballots for later processing.
Brandt also urged the board to consider equipment replacement in the budget process, saying replacement requests were prepared previously but not acted on. “It is law that we actually equip the auditor’s office with equipment that works,” she said, describing the long-term maintenance and replacement needs for tabulators.
The county official who presented tallies (speaker 6) read unofficial numbers for multiple municipal and school races, noting which totals will be recertified after the Walnut audit. The board agreed to sign an amended canvas for certification that excludes the Walnut precinct results and to schedule the Thursday audit and a subsequent certification meeting.
Next steps: the county will perform an administrative audit of Walnut precinct ballots, then reconvene to certify contests and update official results after any adjustments discovered by the audit. The board’s timeline also leaves open follow-up discussion of funding to replace aging election equipment during the budgeting process.