Wrong ballots delivered, voters turned away

SOUTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. (WPRI) -- Early Tuesday morning, voters in South Kingstown were turned away after it was discovered the wrong ballots had been delivered.

Fortunately, poll workers noticed the mix-up before the ballots were ever cast. The biggest inconvenience for voters was the closing of the polling station.

“It is a major issue. People took time out of their schedule this morning before going to work to go vote. Now, they have to return, and you hate to see that, especially on a busy day,” said Sec. of State Ralph Mollis.

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Around 7 a.m. election officials found ballots for North Kingston inside ballot boxes at West Kingston Elementary on Ministerial Road.

Town Clerk Dale S. Holberton said the precinct numbers for the towns of South Kingstown and North Kingstown led to the confusion.

North Kingstown High School's precinct number is 2307. West Kingston Elementary's precinct number is 3207.

Meanwhile, the correct ballots are now available.

“You very rarely see wrong ballots sent to a polling place, and as a result, the polling place not being able to serve voters, I see that as something that you really want to avoid. Now, people have to return to the polling places at a time that may not be convenient to them and vote.”

Similar mix-ups were reported in West Warwick at the Elks Lodge and in Woonsocket after poll workers discovered wrong ballots had been delivered.

According to The Providence Journal, no disruptions were reported. But, some people did leave without voting.