Voters Pamphlet Error Costs State $48,000

by Chris Lehman
October 17, 2008

Some mistakes are easier to correct than others. In Oregon, one Congressional candidate did a double take when he saw state officials listed the wrong party affiliation for him in the voters’ pamphlet. Salem correspondent Chris Lehman explains.

Joel Haugen won the Republican primary in the 1st Congressional District last May. But he switched to the Independent Party after a falling-out with local Republicans.

They were upset at his endorsement of Democrat Barack Obama. But somehow state elections officials failed to change his party affiliation on the voters’ pamphlet.

Haugen says the error was discovered when the pamphlet arrived in his mailbox.

Joel Haugen: “Well actually, I didn’t even open it up. My wife opened it up and she what ‘What’s this?’ She said ‘You’re listed as a Republican.’ And I said ‘Oh, that’s interesting.’ I was actually quite astounded that was the case. But you know, it was a clerical error I suppose.”

It’s an expensive clerical error. The state is spending $48,000 to mail postcards to 1st District voters informing them of the mistake.

Haugen and three other minor party candidates are trying to unseat incumbent Democrat David Wu.