Republicans to count ballots ignored as convention ended

RENO -- Eighteen months later, missing delegate ballots from a recessed Nevada state GOP convention will be counted.

National Committeewoman Heidi Smith said today's count was requested by Republicans who supported the presidential campaign of Ron Paul.

Smith said the count will have no real effect, but she hopes it brings closure to Paul supporters. Paul supporters still feel party leaders cheated them out of a place at the national convention when they abruptly recessed the April 2008 convention in Reno.

Ballots for three national convention delegates from the state's 2nd Congressional District were never counted.

The 2008 convention was recessed after Paul supporters won a rule change that allowed them to vote Paul delegates to the convention.