Trending
LISBON -- With the polls opening this morning at 6:30 a.m., county voters in the this year's general election is all about local races for townships, municipalities, school boards, levies and local liquor options.
There are no statewide races or issues on the ballot.
The polls will remain open until 7:30 p.m. tonight.
The Columbiana County Board of Elections held a brief meeting on Monday just to go over less than a handful of absentee ballots that were returned with irregularities.
The board determined that two ballots where there was an issue due to a circle not being colored in enough for the ballot reading computer to pick it up, the intent was still clear. Those circles will be darkened so that that vote can be cast.
On another ballot where someone filled in both a circle for the levy and the one against the levy, then crossed off the vote against the levy, the board determined that vote was meant to be cast for the levy and will be counted accordingly.
Another ballot discussed was entirely blank. Voter history will show that person requested and cast a ballot. There just was no votes to add to any tallies.
Finally, a ballot was received with a mistake in the Perry Township race. While the ballot said to vote for no more than two, the voter cast the ballot for three candidates. None of those votes will count in that race, but the rest of the votes on the ballot will count.
The board also approved the payment of August and September's bills, totalling $79,779. The figure includes $10,825 to cover the cost of sending out polling place change postcards to those affected by consolidation throughout the county.
The county now has 73 precincts, while there were 87 for the general election a year ago. The number of polling locations also has decreased from 69 to 61. Some may discover there polling place has changed, but they also should have received a yellow postcard from the Board of Elections informing them of the change. The changes were approved in July.
The Board of Elections is in recess until 7 p.m., Tuesday, 30 minutes before the polls will close.
djohnson@mojonews.com