Payne laughs off poll mixup

Lynchburg City Manager Kimball Payne got some unexpected news when he went to the polls on Tuesday: he was no longer listed as a valid city voter.

Payne, who has been the chief administrator of the city government for the past eight years, learned he had been placed on the “inactive voters” list at his precinct at Bedford Hills Elementary School. He cast a provisional ballot until his legitimacy could be confirmed.

“It was pretty funny,” he said Wednesday. “I got to meet a lot of people because it took me half an hour to vote.”

Contrary to the election system’s assessment of his status, Payne — full name Leonard Kimball Payne III — said he has been a faithful voter and speculated that he was being mixed up with his son, Leonard Kimball Payne IV.

The junior Payne, a Navy man, had listed his parents’ house as his official address while he was deployed overseas in Afghanistan. He returned last year and moved to Charlottesville, creating some confusion for others as to which Payne lived where.

“It’s been a mess keeping the bills straight,” Payne III said.

The city manager’s provisional ballot was assessed by the Board of Elections on Wednesday during the regular post-election canvass of the votes. Officials determined he was a valid citizen and his vote could be counted.