Local elections officials don’t plan to challenge a new law that leaves names of unopposed municipal candidates off ballots — but the statute may be destined to change anyway. On Wednesday, a Tippecanoe Circuit Court judge granted a preliminary injunction overriding the statute in that county.
The law, which took effect July 1, means that Evansville City Council members Dan McGinn, R-1st Ward, and Connie Robinson, D-4th Ward, will not appear on the Nov. 8 municipal election ballot. The statute affects only municipal elections.
Vanderburgh County Clerk Susan Kirk , an outspoken critic of the new law, said after Wednesday’s Tippecanoe County ruling that she will sit tight. “Due to state deadlines, Vanderburgh has been mailing ballots out that have already been voted and returned to the Election Office. And . early voting in the Election Office begins this coming Monday,” Kirk said in an email message Friday.
Judge Don Daniel’s ruling in Tippecanoe County, issued in response to a lawsuit, means elections officials there must scramble to reset electronic ballots and reprint and resend absentee ballots.
Kirk said she would prefer to avoid a similar scramble here.
Full Article: Local clerk won’t challenge ballot issue despite court ruling » Evansville Courier & Press.