Wellington Council Candidate Disputes Erroneous Ballot Notice

Voter notification wrongly stated candidate had dropped out, sparking controversy in local election

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A printer's error has sparked controversy in a Wellington Village Council election, after 170 voters were wrongly informed that one of the candidates, Lauren Brody, had dropped out. Brody is still in the race, and the Supervisor of Elections has acknowledged the mistake and is working to rectify it by contacting all affected voters.

Why it matters

This incident raises concerns about the integrity of the electoral process, even at the local level. Erroneous information provided to voters has the potential to sway election outcomes, and it is crucial that election officials take responsibility and work to ensure all voters have accurate information.

The details

The notice inserted in vote-by-mail ballots incorrectly stated that two Village Council candidates had withdrawn, when in fact only one candidate, Paulo Santana, had dropped out. The other candidate, Lauren Brody, is still in the race. Supervisor of Elections Wendy Sartory Link said the mistake was made by the printer her office uses and was missed by one of her employees. Brody is skeptical of the explanation and has requested government records and a full investigation into the incident.

  • The incorrect notices were inserted into 170 vote-by-mail ballots sent to Wellington voters on February 3, 4, and 5, 2026.
  • Supervisor of Elections Wendy Sartory Link learned about the mistake on Monday, February 9, 2026.

The players

Lauren Brody

A first-time candidate for Wellington Village Council who is still in the race despite the erroneous notice stating she had dropped out.

Wendy Sartory Link

The Supervisor of Elections for Palm Beach County, Florida, who has acknowledged the mistake and is working to rectify it by contacting all affected voters.

Paulo Santana

A Wellington Village Council candidate who did actually drop out of the race, but the notice incorrectly stated that candidate Lauren Brody had also withdrawn.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“This is a very, very big deal. This is an election, and the election has been tampered with. I don't think it matters if it is a local Village of Wellington election or a presidential election. Here I am killing myself for this campaign, doing everything I can for the people of Wellington, only for the Supervisor of Elections Office to kneecap me.”

— Lauren Brody, Wellington Village Council Candidate (Sun Sentinel)

“There is no fraud. There is no conspiracy. There is none of that. This was a human error, made by our printer, and we didn't catch it.”

— Wendy Sartory Link, Supervisor of Elections (Sun Sentinel)

What’s next

The Supervisor of Elections office is contacting all 170 affected voters to rectify the mistake, and any voter who received the incorrect notice and wants a new ballot will be provided one. The office is also holding out any ballots received from the 170 voters they haven't been able to reach, to give those voters more time to receive and submit a new ballot before the March 10 election.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the importance of election officials maintaining strict quality control and oversight to ensure the integrity of the electoral process, even at the local level. It also underscores the need for transparency and accountability when mistakes do occur, in order to maintain public trust in the democratic system.