Jefferson County Election Commission says mistake with ballots is fixed

PINE BLUFF, Ark. — The Jefferson County Election Commission says it fixed a mistake after a Senate race was left off some ballots.

The problem affects the District 27 race between Keidra Burrell and Garry Smith, both are trying to clinch the Democratic nomination.

According to the Commission, every electronic voting machine has been reprogrammed.

The 152 early voters whose ballots were affected will have to go to the Jefferson County Clerk’s Office to vote. They’ll be given a printed supplement ballot with just the District 27 race.

“Everybody wants to know how the mistake happened. Human error,” said Election Commissioner Stuart Soffer. “It wasn’t intentional, it wasn’t targeting any group of voters.”

Early voters in the four affected precincts; 221, 222, 223 and 224, have until the polls close Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. to cast the supplemental ballot.

“We apologized to the candidates, we’re sorry it happened,” Soffer added.