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MOUNT VERNON — The Delaware County Board of Elections voted on Friday to remove Melanie Leneghan from the May 5 primary ballot.
Leneghan was a candidate for the state Republican Central Committee for District 19.
The board canceled Leneghan’s voter registration in a 2-1 vote. The board stated the address on her registration was invalid because she neither resided there permanently nor intended to return there.
Candidates must be registered voters to run for office.
A Knox County resident asked what Leneghan’s removal meant for citizens who have already voted, and whether the BOE would reprint ballots going forward.
Knox County Elections Director James Blazer said the board will not reprint ballots. Republican primary voters will still see Leneghan’s name on the ballot.
However, election staff will give everyone who asks for a Republican ballot a slip stating Leneghan is ineligible.
“As of tomorrow (Monday) morning at 8 a.m., we will be posting with every Republican ballot that Melanie Leneghan’s name has been removed, and any votes cast for her will not count,” Blazer said.
Blazer attended Friday’s residency hearing and heard the Delaware Board of Elections’ ruling. However, he said Knox County awaits official notification from the Delaware BOE.
“On May 5, anyone who has already voted, their ballot will still be a valid ballot,” Blazer said.
“Unless something changes, on Election Night at 7:30, we would still tabulate all of those ballots and do those things [we do in any election]. The only thing that would happen is any votes that were cast for Ms. Leneghan would not be counted.”
Leneghan previously said she plans to appeal the Delaware board’s decision to the Ohio Supreme Court.
