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ST. CLAIRSVILLE -- The Belmont County Board of Elections discussed a possible recount of some votes from the Nov. 7 election at a meeting this week.
The Switzerland of Ohio Board of Education race was a topic of discussion Monday. Apparently due to a discrepancy with the votes, a recount may be necessary for the race between Ken Darby and Ron Winkler. As several precincts for the district lie in Belmont County, the board would take part in the recount along with other counties. Frankie Lee Carnes, chairwoman of the board, said the Ohio Secretary of State will notify the board if the recount is required.
Fewer than 100 votes separated the two candidates, according to unofficial election night totals. Winkler was declared the winner with 1,683 votes compared to 1,553 captured by Darby.
In other business, the board talked briefly about the new electronic poll books that were used for the Nov. 7 election. Although the new equipment worked smoothly for the most part, several machines froze or otherwise had small glitches. The company that provided the books was on scene that day to work on the issues, and board member Robert W. Quirk noted that the glitches had "no effect on people's ability to vote." The board agreed, saying that the poll workers loved the equipment, and any issues could be attributed to the equipment being new.
The board members spent a brief time in executive session to discuss potential litigation. They emerged after ten minutes; the issue has to do with a complaint from a Shadyside voter that the board will address "in the very near future."
The next meeting of the Belmont County Board of Elections will be at 11:30 a.m. on Dec. 19 at 103 Plaza Dr. Suite B in St. Clairsville.