When Susan Morrin got to her polling location, it appeared to everyone that she already had voted.

Her name had been written in where her signature should go and someone had cast a vote in her place.

Ms. Morrin, 52, feared the worst — voter fraud — and she even filed a police report about the Nov. 8 incident in East Toledo. But Lucas County elections officials ultimately fessed up: It was a mistake at the polls.

An investigation by the board of elections revealed on Monday what had happened at the polling place at Garfield Elementary School.

Gina Kaczala, director of the Lucas County Board of Elections, said in response to an inquiry from The Blade that a voter with a similar-sounding and similar-looking name from an adjacent precinct had signed where Ms. Morrin’s name should have been signed.

Ms. Kaczala said it appeared that the other voter, who votes in the same polling place but in a different precinct, was directed to the wrong precinct table and presented with the book to sign Ms. Morrin’s name.

“She signed in the wrong book. The poll worker just didn’t pay attention. But it’s also the voter’s job to pay attention. They let her sign the wrong book and let her vote,” Ms. Kaczala said.

Ms. Kaczala said deputy director LaVera Scott checked the correct precinct book and the other voter’s name is not signed there. The names of both women are signed in the polling book next to Ms. Morrin’s name.

Ms. Morrin said the person signed her name in a similar way. She was shocked by an apparent case of in-person voter fraud. She was allowed to vote.

“Do they cancel the impostor person? I have no idea how they handle their situation,” Ms. Morrin said. “All I do know is the polling lady told me my vote would count.”

Earlier on Monday, Ms. Morrin said she has in the past been slightly concerned about voter fraud, and believed it could occur. Polls were open for several hours prior to her arrival.

Ms. Morrin also initially was worried about additional theft, but so far there had been no unusual bank activity.

With officials no longer concerned, though, Ms. Morrin feels a bit better.

“If everybody is satisfied, I’m good with it,” she said.

Impersonating another voter is a fifth-degree felony offense in Ohio.

Contact Tom Troy: tomtroy@theblade.com or 419-724-6058 or on Twitter @TomFTroy.

First Published November 15, 2016, 5:00 a.m.