Invalid signatures shut Ford out of city council race

A lack of valid signatures from voters has derailed an incumbent councilwoman’s bid for re-election.

According to the Butler County Board of Elections, 2nd Ward Councilwoman Leslie Ford did not have enough valid signatures from residents that matched voter registration cards when she filed her petitions on Tuesday, Aug. 18.

The deadline to file petitions was Thursday, Aug. 20.

That means the race for the 2nd Ward seat on council will come down to A.J. Smith, of 16th Avenue, who filed his petitions on Thursday, and John Soppanish, of Lafayette Avenue.

When Ford went to the elections board office on Tuesday, she told the clerk that she wanted to file her petitions. But she was unaware that she had to specifically ask for a pre-check of petitions to ensure the signatures were valid before filing.

Because of Ford’s assumption that a pre-check was automatic, the clerk collected the $45 filing fee and the petitions.

A short time later, the clerk came back and told Ford that out of 76 signatures, 62 were of registered voters and only 35 were valid.

To run for a seat on Middletown City Council, a minimum of 50 valid signatures are required.

In an e-mail sent early Thursday to Betty McGary, Butler County elections director, Ford said she’s not contesting that she said she wanted to file her petitions. She is contesting she was unaware the signatures would not be pre-checked first and given the opportunity to get more signatures.

In her e-mail, Ford said if the Ohio Revised Code permits someone to vote who had changed their address before an election and only has to show proof of that move, the same logic should apply in this case.

“I am also concerned that African American voters signatures were invalidated in an area that is in desperate need of representation,” Ford said.

Ford said late Thursday afternoon said she feels “certain groups in this city, African Americans, the poor and those of Appalachian descent are getting the short end of the stick. .”

“It smacks of the old days when it was made harder for blacks to take history tests in order to vote,” Ford said. “My issue is that people don’t realize they have to update their (voter registration) records.”

McGary said once a candidate turns over their petitions and pays the filing fee, the petitions become the property of the Board of Elections and cannot be returned.

She said candidates can check signatures online through its Web site as well as a public computer at the elections board office, however pre-checks are not automatic and must be requested.

In an email response late Thursday afternoon, McGary said when Ford took out her petitions April 8, she also signed various forms, including one acknowledging the state law that petitions could not be altered or amended after being filed.

McGary also said the employee asked Ford twice if she was ready to file, to which Ford said “yes.”

McGary said it is “mandatory” for a second elections board employee to re-check the signatures on petitions being filed and a checklist is used to review all petitions to ensure they meet all of the legal requirements. McGary also said Ford never asked for a pre-check of signatures.

She said a third check of Ford’s petitions by a different employeee found of the 77 signatures filed, 44 were invalid for reasons such as duplicates, not genuine as they printed their names, not registered at all, not registered at the address on the petition, a person registered in another county, or registered in a different ward.

McGary said the state allows people to provisionally vote if they move right before an election but the voter still has to update their registration information.

“Leslie, it always is a disappointment to BOE personnel when a candidate goes to the trouble of circulating their petitions and does not find their way to the ballot

,” McGary said. “We are very disappointed for you.”

The Board of Elections will meet at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday to certify the petitions for candidates and issues for the Nov. 3 ballot. McGary said Ford’s petitions will not be recommended for certification due to insufficient signatures.