Official election count results in tie for township office; Greenfield ballot issue fails
By
Brandy Chandler-brandychandler@gmail.com
The official count of Highland County's Nov. 8 general election has resulted in the tie of a township office, and change in a ballot issue, according to the Highland County Board of Elections.
The Highland County Board of Elections met Monday morning for the official count, and according to board of elections member Kay Ayres, in the race for Fairfield Township Fiscal Officer the official count resulted in a 468-468 tie between Tracy Evans and Patrick Hagen.
On election night, unofficial results had Evans winning with 464 votes, while Hagen unofficially had 458 votes.
"Any ballots that came in under the time limit, we counted this morning, and we also added in the provisional ballots," Ayres said Monday. "We haven't had a tie in some time."
Ayres said that the candidates have been notified and are entitled to re-count, which has been scheduled for Monday, Dec. 5 at 8 a.m. If that count results in a tie, Ayres said that the race will be decided by a choice of flipping a coin, drawing straws or drawing cards, in accordance with Ohio law.
There was a tie in the race for Madison Township Fiscal Officer several years ago, Ayres said, and that race was decided by a coin toss.
Board of Elections President Andy West will flip the coin, should the race require a tie-breaking.
Additionally, a ballot issue in the village of Greenfield resulted in a change of results regarding Natural Gas Aggregation. On election night, unofficial results had the issue passing with 408 votes for and 405 votes against. The official count shows that there are now 418 votes against the issue and 415 votes for the issue.
"There are three votes different, but you get a free recount if it's half of 1 percent. More than 800 people voted in that election, so they are entitled to a recount. But, if that should result in a tie, the issue will fail because all issues must actually pass," Ayres said.
"An Electric Aggregation was also on the ballot for Greenfield, but that issue passed," Ayres said.[[In-content Ad]]
The Highland County Board of Elections met Monday morning for the official count, and according to board of elections member Kay Ayres, in the race for Fairfield Township Fiscal Officer the official count resulted in a 468-468 tie between Tracy Evans and Patrick Hagen.
On election night, unofficial results had Evans winning with 464 votes, while Hagen unofficially had 458 votes.
"Any ballots that came in under the time limit, we counted this morning, and we also added in the provisional ballots," Ayres said Monday. "We haven't had a tie in some time."
Ayres said that the candidates have been notified and are entitled to re-count, which has been scheduled for Monday, Dec. 5 at 8 a.m. If that count results in a tie, Ayres said that the race will be decided by a choice of flipping a coin, drawing straws or drawing cards, in accordance with Ohio law.
There was a tie in the race for Madison Township Fiscal Officer several years ago, Ayres said, and that race was decided by a coin toss.
Board of Elections President Andy West will flip the coin, should the race require a tie-breaking.
Additionally, a ballot issue in the village of Greenfield resulted in a change of results regarding Natural Gas Aggregation. On election night, unofficial results had the issue passing with 408 votes for and 405 votes against. The official count shows that there are now 418 votes against the issue and 415 votes for the issue.
"There are three votes different, but you get a free recount if it's half of 1 percent. More than 800 people voted in that election, so they are entitled to a recount. But, if that should result in a tie, the issue will fail because all issues must actually pass," Ayres said.
"An Electric Aggregation was also on the ballot for Greenfield, but that issue passed," Ayres said.[[In-content Ad]]