South Portland having municipal ballots reprinted to fix typo on bond question

South Portland to Reprint Ballots After Typographical Error in Bond Question

South Portland officials announced this week that a printing mistake on the city’s municipal ballots will be corrected with free reprints. The error appeared on the public‑safety bond question, which asks voters whether the city should issue a $150,398,500 bond to fund new safety equipment and infrastructure. While the bond’s principal and estimated interest were listed correctly, the total figure on the ballot was mistakenly shown as $105,398,500.

The city’s written statement said the error was discovered after early voting began on Monday. “While we submitted the correct total of $150,398,500, they mistakenly transposed a number and listed $105,398,500 on the ballot,” the statement read.

South Portland’s City Clerk, Jessica Hughes, confirmed that the city will reprint the ballots at no cost to voters, and the new copies are expected to arrive by the end of the week. Early voting will continue normally at City Hall, and voters who cast ballots before the correction will be notified by mail. Those who received an absentee ballot containing the error will also receive a notice.

The city clarified that the ballots with the incorrect total are still considered valid. However, voters who feel the typo may have influenced their decision can request a new ballot. “For anyone who has already voted and would like to change your vote due to the printer’s error, City Clerk’s office staff will mark your original ballot as spoiled and issue you a new ballot,” Hughes said. She added that the clerk’s office keeps a detailed record of all spoiled ballots and errors to account for every ballot issued.

In addition to the South Portland issue, state officials reported that a small number of incorrect ballots were distributed in several western Maine towns earlier this week. Those ballots omitted at least one candidate for the Maine House of Representatives in the upcoming November election, but the Department of the Secretary of State said the problem was caused by a packaging error and that the affected ballots were limited in number.

Voters who have questions about the ballot correction can reach the South Portland City Clerk’s office by email at [email protected] or by phone at 207‑767‑3201.