U-S District Judge Algenon Marbley is expected to rule this morning whether he has the authority to temporarily halt the counting of Franklin County's provisional ballots. The action stems from a lawsuit filed by two voters in support of 15th Congressional candidate Steve Stivers, a Republican. Until the issue is settled all 27-thousand ballots, according to county board of elections spokesman Ben Piscitelli, will remain uncounted.
"We have more than 27-thousand provisional ballots, they're sealed in yellow envelopes and they're stored in a separate room about a thousand are in dispute because of information such as a voter's signature or a drivers license number is missing on them. All 27 thousand will remain sealed and uncounted until the legal issue is settled." Says Piscatelli.
Provisional ballots might determine who wins Ohio's 15th Congressional District. As it stands now, Republican Steve Stivers holds a lead of fewer than 400 votes over Democrat Mary Jo Kilroy. Sam Hendren WOSU News