Palm Beach County Arrest & Investigation Update: Caruso’s name on the ballot could cause confusion if he drops out, expert

What happened: Palm Beach County Clerk and Comptroller Mike Caruso 's name will be on the November ballot, despite his recent arrest.

Background: Caruso, a Republican, is charged with kidnapping, lewd or lascivious molestation, lewd or lascivious exhibition, luring or enticing a chld and chld abuse-mental injury. He allegedly engaged in S3xual activity with a chld under 12.

His name will be on the ballot, even if he withdraws from the race before the November 3 election. If he does pull out of the race, he would be replaced by a replacement candidate selected by the Republican Party.

One political science professor says that will create confusion in the minds of many voters. "If he were to drop from the race but his name would still be on the ballot because it would be too late to take it off at that point, it would provide voters with significant confusion because the fact is when you see a name on the ballot, for a lot of voters, you just assume pretty logically that a vote for that candidate that's on the ballot is a vote for that candidate, right?" Dr.

Aubrey Jewett, Professor of Political Science at the University of Central Florida. Caruso has pleaded not guilty and is free on bond.

if Caruso does withdraw from the race, a notification would be sent out with each mail-in ballot that a vote for Caruso would be a vote for the replacement Republican candidate.

The available details are limited to the information verified at publication time. Readers should expect updates as the matter develops.

Any person identified in connection with an alleged offense is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.

Source: official sources including CBS12 News.