Voting in western Kansas county delayed by ballot misprint

In-person absentee voting is scheduled to resume Thursday in one western Kansas county after being shut down for three days because of a ballot error.

incorrect ballot listed a Kansas Senate 40th District race as a U.S. Senate race. names of candidates, Republican incumbent Sen. Rick Billinger, of Goodland, and Democrat Larry Dreiling, of Hays, were correct on ballot.

U.S. Senate race between Democrat Barbara Bollier and GOP Rep. Roger Marshall was listed correctly.

Ellis County Clerk Donna Maskus said she was tified of incorrect ballots Friday and decided only option was to call off in-person voting, which was scheduled to start Monday. She contacted candidates, Kansas secretary of state's office and legal counsel before making decision.

Correct ballots arrived Wednesday, so advance voting will begin Thursday, with more hours, including addition of voting on next two Saturdays before v. 3, to accommodate those who had to be turned away.

Advance ballots with mistake were also mailed to 3,881 voters, secretary of state office said.

“I sincerely apologize for error,” Maskus told Associated Press. “I am sorry some people were inconvenienced and have to come back, but we have dealt with it and we're ready to start process again.”

All ballots — including those with mistake — will be counted, said Maskus, who ted positions of candidates' names and ovals in front of m were correct and were t changed on reprinted ballots.

Katie Koupal, a spokeswoman for Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab, confirmed incorrectly labeled ballots can be counted. She said people voting by mail also can use ballots with “ typo.”

Billinger, GOP state Senate candidate, said he is sure mix-up was an honest mistake and he doesn't think it will have any impact on outcome of race.

“ people who were going to vote for me or or guy still will,” he said. “Our names are correct and in right place so I don't think it's going to cause much confusion.”

Dreiling, Democrat, is a former reporter and TV anchor in Hays. He did t return a phone call Wednesday but told Kansas City Star “ reporter in me asks, is this corruption? Is this just plain stupid incompetence?”

He expressed concern error also could impact race between Bollier and Marshall "and whole integrity of process here in county.”

Schwab said Tuesday a legal challenge to race's outcome is likely only if margin of victory is close.