No problems reported during busy election
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LISBON -- Columbiana County Board of Elections Director Kim Fusco reported no problems at the polls on Election Day, saying it was very busy.
She had predicted a turnout of 54 to 55%. There was a 16.61% percent actual turnout just with the early in-office and absentee voting. At the end of the night, with all 73 precincts reporting, the turnout was slightly over 55% just as predicted.
All of the renewal levies were approved for East Palestine police,
Fairfield Township roads, West Township roads, Butler Township roads and general improvements, Center Township fire, Knox Township roads and Middleton Township fire. The only close one was East Palestine police, passing with 52% of the vote. Local liquor options for Sunday sales for Gene's Drive Thru in Salem and the American Legion in Salineville passed overwhelmingly.
Fusco did say questions were raised about a man who was set up to collect Axe the Tax signatures and had a candidate sign near the entrance to the First United Methodist Church parking lot in Lisbon. The church serves as a polling location, but she said the signs were beyond the 100 feet limit for electioneering. No signs or electioneering can take place or be posted within 100 feet of a polling location.
She also said someone was set up near the Columbiana County Department of Job and Family Services, which is next door to the county Board of Elections office, but was not within 100 feet of the secure drop box for absentee ballots.
The board met Election Night to certify the unofficial results of the general election and to set meetings for reviewing provisional ballots and for certifying the official election results.
The meeting regarding the provisional ballots will take place at 1:30 p.m. Nov. 13, with the official results certification, which will include approved provisional ballots and any additional absentees, scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Nov. 24.
Provisional ballots are ballots cast on Election Day that may require election officials to confirm a voter's registration and polling location due to name change, a move or not having their identification. According to the count on Election Night, there are more than 447 provisional ballots. Voters who didn't have their identification have the four-day cure period after the general election to present their ID at the board of elections office in Lisbon.
The office at 7989 Dickey Drive, Lisbon will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. today, Thursday and Friday and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday for the cure period.