Voter who received three ballots raises new concerns as mail-in ballot canvassing begins

MARYLAND (WBFF) — As Maryland begins canvassing mail-in ballots statewide, questions continue to swirl over a printing error that forced election officials to send more than 500,000 replacement ballots to voters.

The Maryland State Board of Elections has repeatedly said safeguards are in place to ensure every voter can cast only one ballot. However, one voter who received three ballots for the same election says he’s not convinced.

The issue stems from what election officials have described as a printing error by an outside vendor. In response, the state mailed replacement ballots last week to every voter who requested a mail-in ballot to ensure they received the correct party-specific ballot.

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However, 86-year-old voter Vincent Delpizzo says his replacement marks not the second, but the third ballot to arrive at his home.

“Right now, I’m totally confused,” Delpizzo said.

According to Delpizzo, he first received a Democratic ballot, followed days later by a Republican ballot, and then another Republican ballot after that.

“So, it’s mind-boggling,” he says.

Delpizzo adds that he did recently change his voter registration from Democrat to Republican so he could support his longtime friend, Hale, in the Republican primary. Delpizzo claims he made the switch back in April, a month before the first batch of ballots were mailed out, leaving him uncertain why he received three ballots instead of two.

“I’m not feeling safe with this process,” Delpizzo said.

On Monday, FOX45 contacted Maryland Election Administrator Jared DeMarinis, asking why Delpizzo received three ballots, whether his party switch played a role, and whether other voters have reported similar issues. As of publication, the State Board of Elections has yet to respond.

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Meanwhile, Hale and his running mate, Tyrone Keys, argue the situation raises new concerns about confusion and confidence over this primary election process.

“Now we’re dealing with Vince here, who is absolutely upstanding,” Keys said, “But if you have someone who’s unscrupulous, it could be an opportunity for malfeasance.”

“Ostensibly, he could vote three times, right?” Hale added.

According to information posted on the Maryland State Board of Elections website, every mail-in ballot return envelope contains a unique barcode tied to an individual voter, ensuring that only one ballot can be counted per person. The state also notes that replacement ballots are clearly labeled and accompanied by notification letters instructing voters to use the replacement ballot and discard the original.

Still, Hale questions whether enough was done to distinguish the replacement ballots from the originals.

“I would think the simple solution for me — now I’ve only been in politics for one year — is to change the colors,” Hale said.

And as questions also linger over how the printing mistake was made in the first place, some continue to ask how the same system that sent the wrong ballots can guarantee the count will be correct.

“I’m afraid to send my mail-in ballot because of this confusion,” Delpizzo said, “My question is now, can I go and vote in person rather than do the mail-in?”

The answer is yes. Maryland voters who no longer wish to vote by mail can click here to cancel their mail-in ballot request and vote in person instead.