Stark County primary election updates: Final, unofficial results in; voter turnout 25.9%

Final – but still unofficial – election results are in for Stark County.

The results are considered unofficial until the Stark County Board of Elections certifies the election results. The board has until April 9 to do so.

To see a list of all the primary candidates and issues important to Stark County, go to Full list of March 19 election results.

Tuesday's results include 63,986 votes cast across Stark County's 273 precincts, including those residents who voted early in person or by mail and those who went to the polls on Tuesday. The total does not include provisional ballots or any ballots that got stuck in the mail.

Tuesday's total shows a voter turnout of 25.9% for Stark County. In 2020, 63,742 people, or 26.1% of registered voters, cast a ballot.

Schools levies for Northwest, Tuslaw pass. Marlington levy for faciliites fails

Northwest Local officials are relieved tonight after 62% of voters approved the district’s renewal of a 1% income tax, unofficial election results show. Read education writer Amy Knapp’s report here: Northwest Local income tax renewal easily passes

Tuslaw Local Schools saw nearly 60% of voters approve its levy renewal, unofficial results show. The levy generates $1.2 million a year. More information here: Tuslaw Local Schools levy renewal approved by voters

Unofficial election results show that roughly 66% of voters in Marlington Local rejected the district’s bid for new money to maintain its five school buildings and property. Read Amy’s story here: Voters nix Marlington bid for new money for facilities work

5th District Court of Appeals to get three new judges

Three new faces will sit on the bench in the 5th District Court of Appeals beginning next year.

Delaware County Common Pleas Judge David Gormley, former Franklin County Probate Judge Robert Montgomery and Delaware County attorney Kevin Popham won their respective Republican primaries Tuesday to represent the 15-county district, according to unofficial election results. No Democrats or non-party candidates filed a petition to challenge the Republicans in the November general election. Read Repository writer Tim Botos' story to learn more about the candidates: Three Republicans headed to 5th District Court of Appeals

State Rep. Reggie Stoltzfus loses bid for 6th Congressional District

State Sen. Michael Rulli, R-Salem, appears to have won over State Rep. Reggie Stoltzfus, R-Paris Township, in both Republican Tuesday primaries for congressman of the 6th Congressional District, according to unofficial vote counts.

Read Repository writer Robert Wang's story about why Republican voters saw the same candidates in two separate races for the 6th Congressional District and see how residents in each of the 11 counties in the district voted: Rulli appears to have defeated Stoltzfus in 6th GOP Congressional primaries

Lake Local levy passes on third try

On its third try in the past year, the Lake Local School District's levy has passed, unofficial election results show.

Of the 7,754 Lake Local residents who voted, roughly 54% of them supported the new tax measure that will bring $6.1 million annually to district coffers. The board of elections must certify the vote totals by April 9.

Read Amy Knapp's story to see what Local Local officials are saying about the levy's passage here: Third times a charm for Lake Local; voters approve new money

Four Stark County road levies fail

Voters in Pike, Lawrence, Lexington and Perry townships have turned down their township's road levy requests.

Unofficial election results show that nearly 55% of Pike voters opposed Issue 13; 69% of Lawrence voters defeated Issue 14; 56% of Lexington voters turned down Issue 17 and 64% of Perry voters rejected Issue 18.

Read Steve Grazier's story for more information about these and other township and village election issues here: Stark County voters decide on tax requests in multiple townships, villages

North Canton voters defeat income tax hike

North Canton voters have handily defeated the city's request for a 0.5% income tax increase. With all 12 of the city's precincts reporting, nearly 60% of the voters opposed Issue 7. The issue failed in every precinct, according to unofficial election results at 10 p.m.

Read Repository writer Ben Duer's story for more insight here: North Canton's income tax hike defeated

Meyers Lake, Beach City tax issues approved

With 95 of Stark County’s 273 precincts counted as of 9:30 p.m., two village tax issues have been decided.

Unofficial election results show that Meyers Lake voters have approved the village’s road levy with 73% of the 208 votes cast supporting the request. The 1-mill levy, which is actually lower than the 5-mill levy it was replacing, will generate $22,000 a year and cost the owner of a $100,000 home $22 a year.

Beach City voters also approved the village’s request to renew its 3-mill fire levy, with just over 67% of the 140 voters approving the measure, unofficial results show. The five-year levy will generate $33,000 annually and will cost the owner of a $100,000 home about $84 a year.

Early results show Stark County township road levies in danger, most school issues passing

Early, unofficial election results have been released by the Stark County Board of Elections. The 11,558 early votes reflect residents who voted early in person or by mail.

As of 8:30 p.m., the unofficial results show:

Meyers Lake residents were overwhelmingly supporting the village’s road levy request, which actually asked for less money. Of the 52 early votes cast, nearly 85% supported the tax levy.

It’s a close vote so far for North Canton's permanent 0.5% income tax increase request. The tax was losing by 61 votes − 488 against and 427 in support.

Only one of the 10 absentee voters in Beach City opposed the village’s levy request. It had 91% approval among early voters.

Just over 59% of the 191 absentee voters in Lawrence Township opposed the township’s road levy.

Jackson’s police levy saw an early boost from absentee voters with nearly 71% of the 1,549 early votes supporting the tax request.

Lexington’s road levy trailed in early voting with 55% of the 125 absentee votes opposing the levy.

Perry Township’s road levy saw heavy opposition among absentee voters with nearly 66% of the 729 early votes against the tax issue.

Tuslaw, Northwest and Lake schools districts each saw absentee voters mostly approving their tax requests. Marlington Local Schools’ levy was trailing with 65% of the 450 early votes opposed.

Unofficial early results in Stark County also show Reggie Stoltzfus was out to an early lead over Michael A. Rulli and Rick Tsai for Republican nominee for the 6th District U.S. Congressional seat. And Matt Dolan grabbed an early lead in Stark County over Bernie Moreno in the hotly contested Republican nominee race for U.S. Senate, but The Associated Press has called the race for Moreno.

Stark County's voter turnout matching 2020

With the party presidential races a foregone conclusion, election officials expected relatively low turnout — and they got it.

As of 5:35 p.m., 45,695 voters in Stark County had cast ballots at the polls today. So far, 12,110 absentee (early votes) also have been been cast. The 57,805 combined ballots represent a 23.4% turnout of registered voters, so far.

Polls closed at 7:30 p.m.

Stark County's turnout is actually similar to 2020, when Joe Biden and Donald Trump also were at the top of the tickets. In those primaries, 63,742 people, or 26.1% of registered voters, cast a ballot.

Voters in North Canton decide on income tax increase

Voter Emily Vossen said she has a lot of expenses to worry about. That's why she voted against a proposed 0.5% income tax increase in North Canton.

"I'm 27. I have college debt and a lot of bills that I have to pay now, and so with the extra tax, I was just thinking that I have a lot of things I already have to pay for," she said.

The tax increase, which city officials say would fund road improvements and surging fire department costs, would raise the income tax to 2%.

Ray Meade, 60, said that is too high.

"I live here in North Canton and it's a very nice area and everything, but the taxes are high," he said. "I can't see the justification for the taxes, a lot of them."

Other residents said the tax increase would be beneficial to fund needed improvements in the city.

"We haven't had an increase in a long time. It's not a big increase," said voter Alice Hegnauer, 73. "I think to keep our roads good and to keep everything the way it is. ... We choose to live here and we want it kept nice."

Stark County Board of Elections reports low voter turnout

Primary election turnout has been low as expected in Stark County.

At noon, just under 8% of registered voters had cast ballots on Election Day, said Regine Johnson, deputy director at the Stark County Board of Elections. She said the low turnout is not surprising.

"I imagine it has to do with the fact that the top of the ticket has been decided," she said. "Many people do not focus on the very many interesting and lively races and issues that are more local."

With early voting, voter turnout is at about 15%.

Johnson said no major issues have been reported.

"It's been a fairly typical day," she said.

Lake Local Schools levy motivating voters

At a polling location in Hartville, many voters were motivated by the Lake Local Schools levy.

Kyle Dureska has two young kids. He plans to send them to Lake Local when they're old enough.

"I have young kids and I have a brother with young kids in Hartville," he said outside the Hartville Church of the Brethren where he voted. "I thought it was important to make sure that they have good schools and they're equipped to be able to be successful, and we give them everything they need."

Dureska, 31, recently moved to Hartville from the Columbus area. He said the levy has other effects beyond providing for the schools.

"If it doesn't pass, it has repercussions for everyone, especially the housing market, and Lake is a growing area," he said.

Jeff Harris, 65, of Lake Township had a different opinion on the school levy.

"People on Social Security can't afford an increase on our tax, especially if they've got a fixed budget," he said.

Harris, a Democrat, said he's on Social Security and has voted against the school levy in past elections to prevent a tax increase.

This is the third time Lake Local Schools is seeking a levy to address a more than $3 million deficit.

Tuslaw, Northwest and Marlington school districts also have tax issues on the ballot.

Stark County voters weigh in on GOP primary for U.S. Senate

Ohio voters will decide among Matt Dolan, Frank LaRose and Bernie Moreno in the GOP primary race for U.S. Senate. The winner will face incumbent Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown in November. Brown is seeking a fourth term in the Senate.

John Varavvas of North Canton said he voted for businessman Bernie Moreno. He said former President Donald Trump's endorsement was important to him.

"There are two major reasons, the economy and moral issues," he said, adding that abortion was the main moral issue impacting his vote.

Ray Meade, 60, of North Canton, voted for Trump in the presidential primary, but did not pick a candidate in the Senate race.

"I kind of went back and forth on that one," he said. "I wasn't sure which one I wanted to vote for."

Matthew Miller, 31 of Hartville, said he voted for Matt Dolan for Senate. He said he preferred Dolan because he was a more moderate candidate.

"Trump's crazy," he said. "[Dolan] is generally middle of the road and thinks about what he's doing."

Stark County primary voter guide 2024: Everything you need to know about the March primary in Stark County

What do I need to vote?

Ohio voters must bring an unexpired photo ID. The following are acceptable forms of ID:

• Ohio driver's license

• State of Ohio ID card

• U.S. passport

• U.S. passport card

• Interim ID form issued by the Ohio BMV

• U.S. military ID

• Ohio National Guard ID

• U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs ID card

• To be accepted, IDs must be unexpired, have a picture of the voter and the voter's name. Photo IDs issued by other states are not accepted.

Voters who do not bring a valid photo ID can cast a provisional ballot.

When do polls close?

Polls will close at 7:30 p.m. today. Anyone in line by 7:30 p.m. can still cast ballots.

Where is my polling place?

Voters can cast ballots at their local precinct. Check the Stark County Board of Elections' website to find your polling place.

Registered voters can see a sample ballot for Stark County here.

Can I still return an absentee ballot?

You or a close relative can still return your absentee ballot to the Stark County Board of Elections.

Absentee ballots must be dropped off at the elections board, located at 3525 Regent Ave NE in Canton, before 7:30 p.m. today when polls close.

Do you have to vote in today's Ohio primary election to vote in the November general election?

No.

Anyone 18 years or older and eligible to vote in Ohio may cast a ballot during November's election, regardless of whether they vote in today's primary.

For additional details about voting eligibility in Ohio, click on the Ohio Secretary of State's informational page here.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Primary election live coverage for Canton and Stark County