Hundreds Of Trumbull Absentee Ballots Voided Due To Referendum Question Typo: Town

TRUMBULL, CT — Hundreds of absentee ballots in Trumbull are now voided and will be reissued due to a typographical error in the referendum question, according to the Town Clerk's Office.

In a statement posted to the town website Thursday, town clerk officials said they identified a typographical error in the referendum question on the municipal election ballot regarding the proposed new senior and community center.

The question reads "Shall the $27,115,000 appropriation and bond authorization for the planning, design and construction of a new Senior/Community Center be approved?"

According to the Town Clerk's Office, the dollar amount in the question was incorrectly printed as "$27,115.000" instead of the intended "$27,115,000."

"The ballot was proofread and approved by the town clerk, the registrars and assistant registrars of voters from both political parties prior to printing," the statement reads. "Immediately upon identifying the error, the town clerk sought guidance from Connecticut's secretary of the state, who advised that corrected ballots must be printed and reissued."

The Town Clerk's Office has been working closely with a printer and technical staff to expedite production of corrected ballots, which are being printed and expected to be ready for distribution Thursday, according to the statement.

Approximately 400 absentee ballots were issued with the error, which the secretary of state's office has determined are now voided. Of those, approximately 125 have already been returned, including 20 cast during supervised voting at a nursing home, according to the Town Clerk's Office.

Replacement absentee ballots will be mailed to affected voters along with a letter of explanation.

Voters must use the corrected ballot to ensure their vote is properly counted, according to the statement.

The Town Clerk's Office also noted early voting will proceed as planned on Monday.

"The town clerk and the registrars of voters report directly to the Connecticut Secretary of the State’s Office regarding election matters, ensuring transparency and adherence to state election law," the statement reads. "The town clerk and registrars of voters are responsible for all election-related communications and procedures, independent of any other municipal officials."

Trumbull's full statement can be viewed on the town website.