The Utica Observer-Dispatch noticed that the sample ballot for the November 6 election showed President Barack Obama's name as "Barak Obama." And Mitt Romney's name was suspiciously spelled correctly!
Utica Ballot with misspelled "Barak Obama"
The Observer-Dispatch contacted the Republican Election Commissioner, Pamela Mandryck, who said that she had no idea the mistake was made and that she'd get back to them:
The ballot templates had already been sent to the Albany-based printer Fort Orange Press, she said.
Reached a second time, Mandryck said she was working to remedy the matter.
“We are going to go back and retrieve them so they go out correctly,” she said.
Before further questions could be asked, her cell phone cut out and follow-up calls went straight to voice mail.
There are 133,000 registered votes in Utica. Of course, Obama is expected to win New York, but the Observer-Dispatch adds, "Mandryck and her Democratic counterpart Carolann Cardone have been under scrutiny since delays in reporting some election results in 2010 and 2011."
