Miller, Osage Counties report running out of Republican ballots

ABC 17 News confirmed two different mid-Missouri counties ran out of Republican ballots during Missouri’s primary Tuesday.

The county clerk’s office in Osage County told ABC 17 News some polling places had run out “at the last minute.” The clerk said the county ran out at an undetermined amount of polling places.

Officials in Miller County also confirmed Wednesday several polling places ran out of ballots. ABC 17 News talked to the Miller County Clerk Tuesday who said a polling place first reported running out of ballots around 1:00 p.m.

The clerk said polling places ran out of ballots because he did not order enough. The clerk said he ordered ballots based on previous elections and said the voter turnout for Tuesday’s primary was much higher than previous elections.

The Miller County Clerk said one the shortage was reported, county officials were able to make copies and replace them in polling places within 20 minutes.

ABC 17 News also got a response from the Missouri Secretary of State’s office, which confirmed it heard from one viewer after the polls closed. The agency said it will now work with local election officials to “ensure they don’t run out of ballots.”