The elections board in Ohio's most populous county has fielded numerous calls from voters confused about the layout of absentee ballots.
The ballots are from traditionally Democratic Cuyahoga County, which is receiving more than 2,000 requests for absentee ballots every day. Both presidential campaigns have focused on the county in a state both candidates consider crucial to what's expected to be a close election Nov. 2.
The problem occurs if voters align the ballot portion, which shows a candidate's name, a number and an arrow, with the punch card, which also bears numbers. The numbers don't always line up.
For example, a Cleveland Heights absentee ballot book lists the numeral six next to Democrat John Kerry's name. If a voter tries to line up the arrow with the punch card, the number across from Kerry's name, however, could be for another candidate or for a no vote.
It's also possible for Republican President Bush's name to be misaligned should an absentee voter mistakenly try to follow the arrows.
"It's incredibly confusing," said Aaron Greenspan, a 21-year-old absentee voter from Shaker Heights. "Every day that goes by, more people are going to send in these ballots and more of them are guaranteed to be wrong."
