Election results were delayed Tuesday night as election officials scanned more than 1,100 ballots. The delay was caused after polling machines at one location were incorrectly closed, meaning their information could not be accessed. Officials said the information is also stored on paper printouts, meaning that while the ballots needed to be scanned, the votes could be counted. Above, Election Specialist Michelle Forrider, seated, and Deputy Director Brandon Clay work to scan the paper printouts.
(Journal-Tribune photo by Mac Cordell)
Union County’s election results were delayed more than an hour Wednesday as officials worked to count backup ballots.
With 38 of 45 precincts reporting, officials were waiting on machines and information from one location in the northern portion of the county. When they arrived back at the board of elections office in Marysville, votes couldn’t be counted.
Workers at the final polling location had failed to correctly close out the voting machines, meaning the electronic records couldn’t be accessed.
“All the information is there and it is secure,” said Gary Lee with the Union County Board of Elections.
Officials explained that each machine has a paper backup for each vote. Officials were able to scan the backup printouts and to count and tabulate the votes.
“We have a backup and it worked the way it was supposed to,” Lee said.
Board member Bill Steele called it “a learning experience.” He said he hopes voters see that even when there is an issue, votes are counted, the election is secure and the system works.
Tina LaRoche said that until then, there had been no issues.
“Everything went really well,” LaRoche said. “We didn’t really have any issues out in the field.”
According to unofficial totals from the union County Board of Elections, 9,890 voters, 23.28% of the county’s eligible voters, cast a ballot in Tuesday’s primary election. Of those, 8,225 voters selected a Republican ballot, 1,599 selected a Democratic ballot and 66 voters chose an issues only ballot.
In 2018, which was the last like election, voter turnout was about 25%. At that time there was 37,642 registered voters in Union County. Coming into this election, there were 42,481 registered voters.
LaRoche said early voting “really is” gaining popularity.
“It seems every election, it is becoming more and more normalized. You have a lot more people taking advantage of it,” LaRoche said.
She added, “we were really busy here Sunday and Monday.”
Of all the votes cast in Tuesday’s election, nearly one quarter, 2,285 votes, were cast early, either in person or by mail.
LaRoche said election officials appreciate early voting. She said election officials are at the office enjoy when people come in. She said it reminds the office staff how important voting is to the public.
“That’s what we are here for, to help people and let them vote,” LaRoche said.
Local election officials are planning for another primary before the Nov. 8 general election.
Republicans, Democrats and state supreme court judges couldn’t agree on district maps for the state general assembly — Ohio Senate and Ohio House of Representatives. When those maps are finalized, primaries will be held for those races as well as the state central committees.
LaRoche said that is about as specific as they can be about the timeline. She said there is a lot of discussion about having the second primary in August, but the general assembly hasn’t done anything official.
“We don’t know yet. We don’t have anything official saying we are going to have an August election. We are just waiting for direction from the state,” LaRoche said.
Local election officials said there are 80 provisional ballots yet to be counted. Results are unofficial until the board certifies them after the official canvass, set for May 24.