By MARCIE SCHELLHAMMER

marcie@bradfordera.com

The primary election ballot for Smethport Borough Council was incorrect — but the McKean County Board of Elections is calling it good.

On Tuesday, voters called into question the number of candidates they were voting for in the race. Three candidates were running — two incumbents and one newcomer. The directions on the ballot said “Vote for one.”

Smethport residents thought it should read “Vote for four.” Turns out they were right.

On Tuesday, the election proceeded as the ballot was written. On Friday, the board of elections met, posted the unofficial results of voting and write-ins, and decided the borough council race for Smethport wasn’t correct.

In a statement sent out at the end of business on Friday, the board stated it was aware of the error.

“The Board of Elections is aware of an error on the Smethport Borough ballot listing Councilmen position as a ‘Vote for one (1)’ and acknowledges that this race should have been a ‘Vote for four (4).'”

The statement continued, “After review by the County Solicitor (Anthony Clarke) and discussions with the Department of State Deputy Secretary for Elections and Commissions, it was determined that the county has no authority to deem the votes or voting invalid.”

So, they announced, the unofficial top four contest winners in the race for Smethport Borough Council were, on the Republican ballot, Gregory Rounsville with 109, Jeffrey W. Tanner with 53, and Randall Taylor with 20. Write-in Kenneth R. Crawford Jr. also had 20 votes.

No candidate on the Democratic side had the minimum number of votes to appear on the ballot.

No special election will be held.