SWOX mail-in ballots contain trustee error
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Separate school supporters in the Township of South-West Oxford are being advised of a change in the mail-in ballot for their trustee candidates.
Township CAO Mary Ellen Greb advised voters are to select only one candidate for the London District Catholic School Board, not two as was mistakenly indicated on the mail-in form.
It was a resident who brought the error to the attention of staff.
"Thankfully we got the call," said Greb, as hundreds of ballots are beginning to arrive at the municipal offices.
There are 17 ballots for separate school supporters that have already been placed in the ballot box and Greb said nothing can be done about those. If voters selected two candidates, the education portion of those ballots will be invalid. The municipal council portion of the ballot is still valid.
There are almost 500 township voters who are eligible to cast a vote for the English separate school trustee. Greb said as more ballots arrive at the township office, those that are found to be from separate school supporters will not be placed in the ballot box until the voter has been contacted. Those voters will have the opportunity to fill out a new ballot if they selected two candidates.
"We are looking to reach separate school supporters as early as possible to ensure they are casting their ballot to select one candidate only," said Greb. "We appreciate the patience of the community as we work through this issue, and ask people to please help spread the message to their friends, co-workers and family."
Township staff is scanning vote-by-mail packages that have already been submitted to determine if the package is from a separate school supporter. If so, the elector will be contacted by township staff to see if a replacement ballot is needed. This process will continue right up to the close of voting on Monday, Oct. 27.
The error in the separate school ballot instructions has occurred in the Township of South-West Oxford only and does not affect any other municipalities in Oxford County. For more information, visit www.swox.org or call 519-877-2702 or 519-485-0477.