The Summit County Board of Elections was closed in observance of the Columbus Day Monday. But officials later learned the building was unlocked.
According to board of elections officials, the public entrance for the main office was unlocked at 8 a.m. as a result of a programming error by a contractor installing a new computerized locking system
that was activated on Friday.
Someone called board chairman Bill Rich to alert him to the issue. He went to the board office around 11 a.m. and stayed until a representative from the contractor arrived to correct the issue.
Authorities say sensitive materials and equipment including ballots, ballot scanners and electronic poll books were locked securely in vaults.
Surveillance video showed people walking into the building while it was supposed to be closed. Board staff reviewed the video and said nothing unusual occurred.
This comes just one month after former congressman Dennis Kucinich found an unlocked door at the Cuyahoga County Board of Electionsat a time when the building was supposed to be closed. He was able to go inside but soon realized there was no staff working.
