On June 14, a Kentucky Circuit Court Judge in Lexington ordered that a candidate for non-partisan county office should be on the ballot, even though technically his petition was deficient. The law requires 100 signatures, and says if a voter signs a petition for two opposing candidates, neither signature courts. In the 4th county council race, there were two candidates. One candidate submitted his signatures early. The second candidate then examined the first candidate’s petition, noted the names of people who had signed, and then successfully persuaded some of those signers to sign his petition as well. The second candidate submitted far more signatures than needed.

Because of this action by the second candidate, the first candidate’s petition didn’t have enough signatures. But when this activity was brought to light, the judge ordered the first candidate on the ballot anyway. Roberts v Beard, Fayette Co. Circuit Court, 2nd div., 06-ci-711.