JUDGE SLATES REVOTE SEPT. 22; PRIMARY HAD IRREGULARITIES

EAST PRAIRIE -- Mississippi County will vote Sept. 22 to determine the Democratic primary winner for presiding commissioner.

In the August primary election, presiding commissioner Jim Blumenberg lost to former county commissioner Steve Ledbetter by five votes, but a recount and subsequent hearing did not settle the issue.

Mississippi County Circuit Judge David Dolan found a voting irregularity that could have made a difference in the election's outcome.

"The expense of a new primary election for the office of presiding commissioner of Mississippi County will be great, but to protect the confidence of the electorate in the very system itself, the county can afford no less," Dolan said in his ruling.

Mississippi County Clerk Junior Delay said the election would likely cost $6,000 to $7,000. The primary election that was just held cost about $8,500.

Delay agreed with the judge that confidence in the election process is important. "We want to maintain the highest level of integrity in all our elections," he said. "It is just unfortunate that this happened. It was human error."

On election night, votes counted showed Ledbetter winning against Blumenberg, 1,185 to 1,180. In a recount last week, the margin closed to just two. Ledbetter had 1,188 votes and Blumenberg had 1,186.

On the same day as the recount, a hearing was held concerning mistakes made by election judges in Wilson City.

The election judges had distributed two ballots, one Democratic ballot and one U.S. Taxpayer ballot, to each registered voter who signed the register.

The election judges also said that at least one voter was issued two Democratic primary ballots.

In his ruling, the judge said, "Distribution of more than one Democratic ballot to a voter is an irregularity of sufficient magnitude to cast doubt on the validity of the election for the office of presiding commissioner of Mississippi County."

Dolan said the fact that U.S. Taxpayer ballots were distributed wouldn't prompt a new election.

The U.S. Taxpayer ballot contained only one candidate, Curt Frazier for U.S. Senate, and no candidates for county office.

"Although the distribution of more than one ballot to a voter is an irregularity, the act was a mistake on the part of the election judges," the judge wrote. "The court does not find that any fraud was committed."

Dolan said a new election is needed to preserve confidence in the election process.

"Twice in as many elections, the election process in Mississippi County has come under close scrutiny," Dolan wrote. "Voters must have confidence in their election process or they will have no confidence in their elected officials."

The winner of the Democratic primary will face Republican Donald A. Raithel in the November general election.