HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-11-17 Election Board Minutes
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2021
The Franklin County Election Board met, Wednesday, November 17, 2021 with
the following members present: David S. Keller, John T. Flannery (attending virtually)
and Robert G. Ziobrowski. Chairman Keller presided and after calling the meeting to
order, proceeded with the business of the day.
Jean Byers, Deputy Chief Clerk explained that on Monday she received three
petitions filed by candidates on the November ballot for council persons in Greencastle
requesting to consolidate names that were listed separately under democrat and
republican on the ballot. She forwarded the information to the solicitor since this has
never been requested for after a Municipal Election in the past. Jerrold Sulcove, County
Solicitor explained that normally these petitions are filed after a primary election. He
found in the election code that prohibits this being done after a general election. He
found several cases in the state that the Court of Common Pleas sited this was not
permissible and explained some of the cases he found. There are no appellate court
decisions at this point but County court decisions are not binding but based on those
cases and the election code he is recommending the requests be denied.
Commissioner Flannery
therefore one individual could vote for the same person twice. Commissioner
Ziobrowski stated that he has some sympathy for some petitioners even though the law
tells them to cumulate they were not aware what needed to be done to appear as 1
entity on the ballot. He asked if moving forward will there be changes to make it more
clear on the petition instructions. Attorney Sulcove responded that the guidance that is
given to candidates can be amended. On a motion by Robert G. Ziobrowski, seconded
by John T. Flannery; unanimously approved to deny the petitions to cumulate votes and
direct the solicitor to respond to the petitioners via a letter.
The meeting was adjourned.
Carrie E. Gray
County Administrator/Chief Clerk
FRANKLIN COUNTY ELECTION BOARD
David S. Keller, Chairman
John T. Flannery
Robert G. Ziobrowski