Miami County’s 6,200 uncounted votes: What’s really going on?

Miami County Board of Elections members will meet for the first time since news broke that more than 6,200 votes cast ahead of last November’s general election were not counted.

The Dayton Daily News first reported on the error Saturday.

What happened?

The Board of Elections was notified Dec. 20 by the Ohio Secretary of State that November election results were out of line with historic voter participation. A review found 6,288 early votes cast on touch-screen machines at the elections office were not counted.

The discrepancy occurred on Election Night when voting equipment did not pull all of the vote total data. It went unnoticed until the state review.

Did it change any results?

Elections Board Chairman Dave Fisher said a check of all races and issues showed no change in outcomes and no race or issue qualified for automatic recount.

“That is the saving grace,” he said.

What could happen now?

Fisher said a full investigation would take place and the board would meet at 4:30 p.m. today to discuss what happened and to consider possible employee discipline.

“We will move forward with an investigation. We will see,” Fisher said. “We as a board could lose our job. There could be some staff members lose their jobs.”

The board also is expected to amend the official totals to reflect the additional votes.

Fisher said the county already has been considering new voting equipment and said the Election Night error underscores the need to get a system selected.

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