Summary
Officials in Palm Beach County, Florida, had to resend ballots to overseas voters after a typographical error misspelled the name of Gov. Tim Walz, the Democratic nominee for vice president, as “Tom Walz.” The mistake affected 257 electronic ballots that had already been emailed to military and overseas voters before the error was identified and corrected within 18 hours.
The issue arose when the Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections discovered that a vendor had made an unauthorized manual change to the approved ballot, leading to the misspelling. Wendy Sartory Link, the county’s elections supervisor, assured that the error would not impact the tabulation of the votes, as all ballots would still be counted as intended by the voters. Affected voters were promptly notified and advised to download the corrected ballot. This incident highlights the importance of accuracy in electoral processes, especially given Palm Beach County’s historical context with ballot errors, such as those seen during the 2000 presidential election recount.
Background on the Error
- Nature of the Mistake: The misspelling of Tim Walz’s name was identified shortly after ballots were sent out, prompting immediate corrective action by the elections office.
- Response and Resolution: The elections office acted quickly, notifying affected voters and providing them with updated ballots to ensure their votes would count accurately.
Historical Context
Palm Beach County has a notable history of ballot-related issues, most famously during the controversial 2000 presidential election, which raised questions about electoral integrity and accuracy. The recent misspelling incident serves as a reminder of the critical nature of precision in election administration.
Some Palm Beach County ballots are reissued after misspelling Tim Walz’s name
Sep. 23 / Wcvb / Concise reporting on the misspelling incident, emphasizing the prompt corrective action taken. The article's straightforward approach effectively communicates the essential facts without unnecessary embellishment. “ The Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections said Gov. Tim Walz, the Democratic nominee for vice president, was misspelled as “Tom” Walz in some ballots...
Some Palm Beach ballots misspelled Tim Walz’s name as ‘Tom’
Sep. 22 / Sun Sentinel / Provides a comprehensive overview of the error, including historical context from the 2000 election. The mention of the voter who brought the issue to light adds a personal touch, enhancing reader engagement. “ MIAMI — When elections officials in Palm Beach County emailed ballots last week to military and overseas voters, they failed to notice a typographical error:...
Some Palm Beach ballots misspelled Tim Walz’s name as ‘Tom’
Sep. 22 / Sun Sentinel / Reiterates key details of the incident while offering historical context about past ballot issues. The repetition of information may feel redundant, but it reinforces the importance of accuracy in elections. “ MIAMI — When elections officials in Palm Beach County emailed ballots last week to military and overseas voters, they failed to notice a typographical error:...
Who? Ballots resent to overseas voters after Gov. Tim Walz's name is misspelled
Sep. 23 / Tmj4 News / Highlights the swift response from Palm Beach County officials regarding the misspelling of Tim Walz's name. The detailed explanation of the vendor's unauthorized change adds clarity to the incident's context. “ Over 250 electronic ballots that were sent from Palm Beach County to military and overseas voters had democratic vice presidential candidate Gov. Tim Walz’s...
Some Palm Beach Ballots Misspelled Tim Walz’s Name as ‘Tom’
Sep. 22 / The New York Times / Delivers a succinct account of the error, focusing on the official response. While it lacks depth compared to others, it serves as a quick reference for those seeking essential facts without extensive detail. “ Officials in Palm Beach County, Fla., said that they had emailed 257 ballots to overseas voters before catching the error and correcting it.