Phone scam urges Butler County Democrats to mishandle absentee ballots

A phone scam is targeting Butler County Democrats.

The Butler County Board of Elections received complaints from two voters who said they received phone calls about their absentee ballots, board director Nicole Unzicker told The Enquirer. The mysterious caller told the voters there was an error on their absentee ballot envelopes, and that they would need to return them to an address other than the Board of Elections, which turned out to be the county's Democratic Party headquarters in West Chester.

Butler County Democratic Party Chair Kathy Wyenandt , who was notified about the calls from the Board of Elections, said one of the voters tried to call the person back, but the phone number was disconnected.

Political party offices cannot accept absentee ballots. Absentee ballots must be mailed or delivered in person to the Board of Elections office to be counted.

Unzicker said the board alerted the Ohio Secretary of State's office, which is investigating the calls.

How to vote with absentee ballot

Butler County voters can mail their absentee ballot to Butler County Board of Elections, 1802 Princeton Road, Suite 600, Hamilton, Ohio, 45011-6099.

Voters can also return them to the Board of Elections office in person at 1802 Princeton Road. Absentee ballots can also be deposited in the ballot drop box in the office's parking lot.

Early voting starts Oct. 8 in Ohio. Absentee ballots must be postmarked by Nov. 4 and returned to the Board of Elections office by 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 5 in order to be counted.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Phone scam urges Butler County Democrats to mishandle absentee ballots