Primary ballots thrown out over oath

COLUMBIA BASIN - Several ballots from Adams and Grant counties were disqualified due to failure to mark an oath declaring party affiliation.

Adams County Auditor's Office Elections Administrator Heidi Hunt said so far approximately 55 presidential ballots were disqualified due to failure by voters to mark an oath. There are approximately 200 ballots left to tabulate.

She said anyone who mailed in a ballot to vote for a school levy had their vote counted whether they checked an oath or not, Hunt said. No levy ballots were disqualified.

The Grant County Elections Office disqualified 1,016 presidential votes due to failure to mark a party oath. There were 916 votes tabulated for the school levies. So far 353 of the levy votes were tabulated separate from ballots where the presidential nomination was disqualified.

There are about 3,500 ballots left to count.

Both counties advised of receiving interesting comments written on the ballots and envelopes from voters.

Hunt said she received about 20 comments on Adams County ballots and envelopes.

The comments consisted of people stating they did not like the idea of declaring a party. Hunt said it is possible some people did not understand what it meant to check an oath because there were no party guidelines established with the act. She said after reading the comments, it's possible some people have different views about what it means to be a member of the party.

Checking the oath is not binding for future elections, people can change their affiliations, Hunt said.

The Grant County Elections Office advised of several comments concerning the party oath. Comments included voters stating they are independent, didn't like choosing a party and called the process unconstitutional.

Hunt said the election attracted several high school and college-aged voters. She said there was momentum in the Columbia Basin to get young voters registered. Several area schools helped sign-up new voters. Hunt said she enjoyed the election year because there were so many new and active voters and the ballot process was an interesting experience.