FARGO, N.D., Oct. 15 (UPI) -- A printing error on some North Dakota absentee ballots seemed to give voters no choice but to support a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage.
The two choices available to absentee voters on Measure 1 -- basically, to vote "yes" or "no" on the same-sex marriage ban -- were each followed by an explanation indicating either vote would be counted as an approval of the constitutional amendment, the Fargo Forum reported.
County Auditor Mike Montplaisir said probably fewer than 100 flawed ballots were mailed Sept. 23 to overseas voters, primarily U.S. military personnel, noting that the incorrect wording would not affect the validity of the vote, and new ballots were printed once the error was discovered.
Secretary of State Al Jaeger said the mistake is quite unlikely to affect the prospects for Measure 1. "The winning-losing margin would have to be exceedingly small," he said.
