Floyd County Democrats Demand Accountability Following Serious Ballot Error

Party Election Protection Team Identified Missing County Commissioner Race

NEW ALBANY, October 9, 2026 — The Floyd County Democratic Party is expressing serious concern over a ballot error affecting the 2026 General Election that resulted in the omission of candidates for Floyd County Commissioner, District 1, from ballots provided to certain Floyd County voters during early voting.

The error involves the race between Democratic candidate Ellen Morrison Kelley and incumbent Republican Commissioner Al Knable. While candidates for County Commissioner reside within designated districts, the office is elected by voters countywide.

The Floyd County Democratic Party's Election Protection Team began receiving reports of the issue and undertook an investigation on Wednesday and Thursday. Those efforts helped bring the matter to the attention of election officials.

“First and foremost, we want to reassure Floyd County voters that this issue has been identified and is being addressed,” said Adam Dickey, Floyd County Democratic Party Chair. “Our immediate priority is ensuring that every eligible voter has the opportunity to cast a complete ballot and that those who have already voted are not deprived of their voice in this important race.”

While acknowledging the steps being taken to address the problem, Democratic leaders emphasized that the error raises serious questions about election administration and oversight.

“This is not a minor clerical mistake. An entire countywide race was omitted from the electronic ballots presented to over 300 eligible voters casting their vote during the first three days of voting,” Dickey continued. “Danita Burks and the Republican leadership responsible for administering our elections owes the public an explanation of how an error of this magnitude occurred, why it was not discovered during the public test before voting began, and what safeguards failed along the way.”

The Party is calling on the Floyd County Election Board and Clerk's Office to provide a full accounting of the error, promptly correct affected ballots, identify voters who received incomplete ballots, and establish a clear process consistent with Indiana law to protect their voting rights.

“We appreciate the voters who brought this issue forward and the work of our Election Protection Team in investigating those reports,” Dickey said. “But it should not fall to voters and political party volunteers to discover a fundamental problem with the ballot after voting has already begun. That responsibility belongs to the officials entrusted with conducting our elections.”

The Floyd County Democratic Party will continue monitoring the situation, working with election officials, and advocating for a transparent resolution.

“Our message to Floyd County voters is simple: Do not lose confidence in the power of your vote. We are working to make certain this error is corrected and that every eligible voter has the opportunity to participate fully in this election,” Dickey concluded. “At the same time, accountability matters. The public deserves more than an explanation that a mistake was made. They deserve to know how it happened and what will be done to ensure it never happens again.”

Voters who believe their ballot omitted the County Commissioner race are encouraged to contact the Floyd County Election Office at 812-948-5411.

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