DaytonDailyNews.com

TROY — Miami County election officials want to know how four absentee ballots returned to the elections office by mail got there when the people who requested the ballots are complaining they never received one.

"I think we have a little voter fraud going on," elections Director Steve Quillen told the board Wednesday, Oct. 29.

He said he notified the county prosecutor's office earlier Wednesday after staff identified at least four ballots that were returned although voters who requested them had contacted the elections office saying they never arrived. All four secrecy envelopes did not include the voter signature.

Election board members told Quillen to also notify the sheriff of suspected fraud.

"I have no idea where the problem is at," Quillen said.

He had not received advice from prosecutors on how to handle the situation by late Wednesday afternoon.

Quillen said the office has received about 30 absentee ballots without the voter signature, but he does not know if there are questions about any of the others. Voters identified by the number on the ballots will be contacted to ensure they marked the ballots and sent them to the elections office.

The four people who claimed they did not receive the absentee ballot were given a provisional ballot to be counted following a series of checks after Election Day.

The board, which has been meeting weekly during the final month before the election, also heard Wednesday from Ann Harrison, an attorney who lives in the county and serving as a poll observer for the Ohio Democratic Party.

Harrison discussed a memo she wrote regarding concerns following the 2004 presidential election as far as ballots in Miami County and other areas of the state and steps taken locally to address concerns.

"I am trying to reassure the voters, to let them know information is available and the board is available," she said, adding teams of a Democrat and Republican are assigned to observe handling of ballots and other election-related functions.

"We are already on top of it, is how I feel," Harrison said.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2292 or nbowman@DaytonDailyNews.com.