Poll official fired, forcibly removed after 11 voters at Richmond polling place receive wrong ballots
Nov 05, 2024
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- A poll official has been fired and was forcibly removed after 11 voters experienced issues with their ballots in the morning on Election Day at the Calhoun Community Center in Richmond.
According to Virginia Department of Elections poll workers at the center, 11 voters were given ballots that only included federal races earlier in the morning on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 5.
Without the correct ballot, these voters could not vote in local elections, including voting for Richmond's mayor, City Council seats and School Board seats.
Officials said these voters could not revote. The State Board of Elections reportedly came to fix the issue at around 6:30 a.m. Tuesday.
General registrar Keith Balmer told 8News that there are three ballot styles: the full ballot, a "Federal Only" ballot and a "Presidential Only" ballot -- the last of which is only used on "very rare occasions."
According to Balmer, in elections with any federal races, polling locations are required by law to have Federal Only ballots on hand for military and overseas voters.
"99 percent of the time, these [military and overseas] voters cast their ballots through the mail," Balmer told 8News via email. "Sometimes they show up in person at their precinct. If they do, they can only vote on a ballot with federal races."
Balmer confirmed that the poll official at the center, Precinct Chief Barbara Burgo, was removed from the polling location.
Balmer said the State Electoral Board held an emergency meeting to remove Burgo as an election officer, after which he confirmed that she was fired and forcibly removed from the building.
Folks who are heading out to vote should make sure to bring their government-issued ID, like a driver's license, passport or current bill with their name and address.
To follow updates at polling places throughout Virginia on Election Day, visit the 8News live blog.