Typo Puts ‘Barack Osama’ on Ballot

Election officials in Rensselaer County, N.Y., are caught in the middle of a national embarrassment after a “typo” on 300 absentee ballots listed the Democratic candidate for president as “Barack Osama.” Both Democratic and Republican officials in “Renassliare County” swear the error was accidental.

The Times Union:

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama’s last name is spelled “Osama” on hundreds of absentee ballots mailed out this week to voters in Rensselaer County.

The misspelling, which elections officials on both sides of the aisle insist was simply a typo, is causing embarrassment for the county.

‘‘No question this is an honest mistake innocently done,’’ said Edward McDonough, the Democratic commissioner. ‘‘We catch almost everything.’‘

‘‘This was a typo,’’ said Republican Commissioner Larry Bugbee. ‘‘We have three different staff members who proof these things and somehow the typo got by us.’‘

Read more

Times Union / Michael P. Farrell

This ballot was sent to about 300 homes.