ST. CLAIRSVILLE — Just 6.85% of Belmont County’s registered voters turned out Tuesday to help decide a statewide issue and to determine whether levies proposed in local communities would be approved.

According to unofficial totals released by the Belmont County Board of Elections on Tuesday evening, 3,086 total voters cast ballots in the special/primary election. Of the ballots cast, 830 were those of absentee voters, which includes early in-person voting. A total of 2,256 residents voted on Election Day.

The ballot featured one statewide measure — Ohio Issue 2 — and four proposed property tax levies in various communities.

A few candidates for office were listed, but all were uncontested.

Ballots in Monroe and Harrison counties featured only Issue 2.

Locally, voters in Belmont, Flushing and Kirkwood Township approved levies, while Wheeling Township residents declined an additional operating levy.

Belmont residents voted 28-22 in favor of a 1.5-mill, continuing property tax for expenses related to cemetery maintenance and upkeep. Turnout within the village was 16.78% with 51 of the community’s 304 registered voters casting ballots.

In Flushing, residents voted 49-9 to renew a 5-mill property tax renewal for five years for providing and maintaining fire apparatus, ambulance equipment or other emergency medical services. Turnout in Flushing stood at 10.10% with 58 out of 574 registered voters participating.

Kirkwood Township supported an additional 1-mill, five-year levy for maintaining and operating cemeteries by a 10-7 margin. A total of 17 of the township’s 274 registered voters cast ballots, leading to a 6.2% turnout.

Finally, 54 Wheeling Township residents voted in favor of an additional 0.75-mill, five-year property tax for current expenses, but 91 voters were opposed. Turnout stood at 12.05% with 146 out of 1,212 registered voters taking part in the election.

Issue 2 is a constitutional amendment to issue bonds to finance local infrastructure initiatives dealing with roads, bridges, water systems, waste disposal and other projects. Near-unanimous bipartisan majorities in the state Senate and House voted in December to put the measure before voters in Tuesday’s special election, although one Republican state senator and four Republican state representatives opposed the measure.

Since it was approved, according to the Associated Press, Issue 2 will continue a funding program that was first enacted in 1987 with support from about 71% of voters. It was renewed in 1995 with about 62% in favor, then again in 2005 with 54% and most recently in 2014 with 65%.

Belmont County voters also supported Issue 2. According to the board of elections, 2,092 Belmont County residents voted in favor of the amendment, while 992 opposed it.

The Monroe County Board of elections released unofficial results indicating that Issue 2 was favored there as well by a vote of 438-378. The board noted that 817 total votes were cast among 9,271 registered voters for a 8.81% turnout.

In Harrison County, turnout was 7.09% with 709 out of 10,006 registered voters taking part. They also supported Issue 2, with 514 voting in favor and 192 voting against the measure.