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LISBON -- Results of the March 19 primary election remained the same after the final tally Wednesday, with total voter turnout a little over 27 percent.
"There were no close races," Columbiana County Board of Elections Director Kim Fusco said.
The fact that Republican voter turnout was over 101 percent sparked a question from board member Vic Maroscher on whether that had ever happened before, but Fusco said the numbers are skewed a bit because some nonpartisan and Democratic voters asked for Republican ballots this time around. There were contested county races on the Republican side.
"In the past, we have had numbers like this," she said.
Deputy Director Bryce Miner and Fusco both said the numbers for registered voters will be updated to reflect those changes. The current numbers for registered voters are based on previous figures.
"We don't know the true Republican voter turnout," Board Chairman David Johnson said.
For the final results, which the board certified during the meeting, there were 14,350 Republican ballots cast, 3,155 Democratic ballots cast and 264 nonpartisan ballots cast. The numbers of registered voters in the county, which will change with the update, include 14,142 Republicans, 5,327 Democrats and 45,459 nonpartisan.
The board also certified the results of overlapping districts, which in this case included only the 79th District state rep race which covers both Columbiana and Carroll counties. The vote totals for the uncontested race included: Republican Monica Robb Blasdel, 2,773 in Carroll and 10,054 in Columbiana for a total of 12,827 votes; and Democrat Dan Votaw, 737 in Carroll and 2,471 in Columbiana for a total of 3,208. They'll face each other in the general election this fall.
Also discussed was the post-election audit, which requires board personnel to hand count random precincts in three contests, two which are selected by the state and one selected by the board. The state tapped the Republican Delegates-At-Large and Alternates-At-Large to the Republican National Convention and the Democratic Justice of the Supreme Court unexpired term for Dec. 31, 2026. The board selected the countywide park district levy issue. The audit meeting will be held at 1:30 p.m. April 17.
The meeting on Wednesday to certify the final results was the last for Miner, who's last day as deputy director is Friday. He's starting a new job soon as Columbiana's new Deputy City Administrator/Deputy Zoning Inspector.
"We wish Bryce the very best in his new endeavor," Johnson said, praising the way he worked in a nonpartisan manner. "We salute you Bryce for a good job."
Fusco led the well-wishers who said "know we're going to miss you Bryce."
Miner said it's been an honor and privilege to serve the county the past five years. He thanked the entire board of elections team, including board members and staff, the poll workers and his family and friends for their support during his time as deputy director, noting that several family members have worked as poll workers.
"As I depart this office, I ask that all voters participate in the election process no matter how big or small of an election. And in times of divisiveness, remember that we are all one as Americans, so always put country first," he said.
Johnson reported that seven applications have been received for the deputy director position. He's talked to all of the applicants and said there have been two in-person extensive interviews with him and Maroscher so far. He said they're hoping to get finished soon. Since Miner is a Republican, the Republican members of the board are doing the interviewing, but the entire board will vote to hire whomever is chosen.
In other business, the board amended the personnel policy manual to reflect the existing county policy regarding being paid time and a half for working on a holiday, which is in addition to the employee's straight time holiday pay. There's also an option for staff taking a specific day off as one if they all have to work on a holiday.
Fusco said the programming of the equipment for the next election, which falls June 11 for the special congressional general election, will be done April 10. The testing will be done April 15. She also noted that in-office early voting for the special election begins May 14, with the voter registration deadline falling on May 13.