Ballot Typo Results in Election of Non-Candidate

Democrats in Derby, Connecticut, have a bizarre problem on their hands: Voters easily elected James J. Butler to serve on a local finance board. The problem is that it was his father, James R. Butler, who was supposed to be on the ballot. "I was the one they nominated," the elder Butler tells the Connecticut Post. "My son wants nothing to do with this." A mock ballot was out for weeks prior to Election Day, but nobody caught the typo.

Republicans happily pointed out the gaffe to town officials, and now Democrats will meet tomorrow to try to figure out a legal way forward. "We are going to try to unravel this and see how best to handle it," says one. They might have to swear in James J. Butler and have him immediately resign, then somehow fill the vacancy with his dad. James R. currently serves on the board and was seeking another term. (More typographical error stories.)