Hundreds complain over obscured ballots

CLEVELAND (AP) - Hundreds of voters in Cleveland and its Cuyahoga County suburbs have complained about confusing mail-in ballot envelopes.

About 45,000 absentee ballots mailed to voters have dark instructions inside information boxes which voters must complete. The "print name" and "sign" instructions in dark ink obscure the response areas highlighted in yellow.

The elections board says the printer was supposed to use faint gray instructions inside the boxes.

Elections board director Jane Platten says voters can write through, above or below the dark label boxes or can ask for a replacement envelope.

Platten tells The Plain Dealer about 200 voters have called to complain.