A shortened version of his name almost kept the leader of the Delaware Board of Education off the Nov. 3 ballot.

However, the Delaware County Board of Elections voted unanimously to reverse course and place Ted Backus’ name back on the ballot after a Wednesday protest hearing.

“I am very happy that the issue could resolved and I want to thank the Board of Elections for hearing my appeal,” Backus said. “I look forward to being on the ballot and serving the students and families of our district for another four years.”

Backus will cruise to re-election for a third term. Just two candidates filed to run for the two open seats on the board, the other being incumbent Matthew Weller.

Last month, the board ruled that Backus was not eligible to run in the Nov. 3 election. He had enough valid signatures from registered voters. But he signed his petition “Ted Backus,” even though he is registered to vote under the name “Robert Theodore Backus.”

Josh Pedaline, director of the board of elections, said Backus made a convincing case that his name should not have been removed from the ballot due to such a minor discrepancy.

Four other would-be candidates were not as fortunate.

The board upheld its decision to keep four candidates off the ballot: Yvette Lawal, one of seven candidates who had filed to run for three open seats on the Olentangy Board of Education; Michelle M. Parsons; Rick Clunk, who filed to run for a seat on the Marlboro Township Board of Trustees; and Douglas P. Crowl.

Parsons, who planned to run for a Galena Village Council seat, and Lawal both failed to properly complete the statement of candidacy on the petitions they circulated.

Crowl, who filed to run for the seat on the Porter Township Board of Trustees, and Clunk failed to obtain enough valid signatures from qualified voters to make the ballot.