"He Can't Even Vote For His Own Father"

Problems with absentee ballots have hit home for Republican Nelson F. Rimensnyder, a candidate for shadow senator.

Rimensnyder knew he could count on one vote. That of his son James, a captain in the Army currently stopped at a base in Germany before heading to Iraq in two weeks.

James Rimensnyder applied to vote absentee by mail, but on Saturday he only received a federal ballot that allows him to vote in the presidential contest and for U.S. delegate. He did not receive a local ballot despite requesting it, Nelson Rimensnyder said.

"He can't even vote for his own father," said Rimensnyder, 65. "I'm on the ballot. His father. And he can't vote for me."

Rimensnyder is trying to unseat Democratic incumbent Paul Strauss. Businessman Keith Ware of the Statehood-Green Party and Damien Ober, a bartender, round out the ballot.

Rimensnyder said he has left several messages with the D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics.