Trending
LISBON -- The majority of Columbiana County voters overwhelmingly said yes to State Issue 1 at the polls on Election Day, but the majority of absentee and in office ballots reflected a majority of no votes.
Gradually as the votes came in from the precincts Tuesday night, the margin grew closer and with 57 of the 73 precincts counted, the tide turned to the yes column.
With 100 percent of the votes counted, according to complete but unofficial results from the county Board of Elections, the vote totals were 14,728 yes votes, or 60.76 percent, and 9,510 no votes, or 39.24 percent.
Statewide, though, Columbiana County fell into the minority as State Issue 1 failed, keeping the simple majority of 50 percent plus one all that's required to pass a constitutional amendment.
County Board of Elections officials had altered their prediction for the voter turnout based on the number of absentee and in office ballots cast, guessing that 30 to 40 percent of registered voters would vote.
They were spot on, with 37.56 percent of voters casting ballots -- that's 24,251 voters out of the 64,567 registered to vote.
Out of the absentee ballots mailed in, 487 voted yes and 1,167 voted no. Out of the in office ballots cast, 1,167 voted yes and 1,374 voted no.
County election officials reported no issues during this special election, with voting steady all day.
"Everything went smoothly, for as busy of an election as we were faced with, everything was smooth," Board of Elections Director Kim Fusco said.
She said there were a few little hiccups in the morning, but all precincts were open on time. The dropping off of the results by poll workers after the polls closed also went smoothly, with final unofficial results released by 9:16 p.m. Tuesday.
"Everything worked out fine," Deputy Director Bryce Miner said.
In East Palestine, the precincts for East Palestine Village 1 and 2 and Unity Township SE were moved to the Church of Christ, 20 W. Martin St., joining East Palestine Village 3. Miner spent some time there and said the poll workers did a great job with four precincts in one polling location. He said they loved it and were excited that it's going to be that way from now on.
He visited some other polling locations, including one in West Township, and said "it was really heartwarming to see all the voters out for an August election."
Both Fusco and Miner praised the work of the poll workers and the board staff.
mgreier@mojonews.com