The official canvass for the Nov. 3 general election in Delaware County began on Tuesday.
One election result that could possibly see a change is the Buckeye Valley Local School District bond issue, which was defeated according to the unofficial results released election night.
The district is primarily located in Delaware County, but also spills over into Marion, Morrow and Union counties. The total unofficial results from all four counties combined was 3,257 against the issue and 3,238 in favor, a margin of 19 votes.
While Delaware County voters lent their support to the bond issue (3,060 for, 2,969 against), Marion, Morrow and Union voters did not back it. Morrow County voted against the issue by a margin of 276-177. It failed in Marion County by 7 votes to 1. In Union County, voters rejected the issue, 5-0.
According to Karla Herron, deputy director of the Delaware County Board of Elections, Morrow County has already completed its canvass and there was no change in the total vote tally on the Buckeye Valley bond issue. She said that Marion and Union will finish their canvasses on Friday, the same day as Delaware.
Herron said in the case of the Buckeye Valley bond issue, 32 votes would be the margin necessary to require an automatic recount. According to Ohio Revised Code 3515.011, “If the number of votes cast in any county or municipal election for the declared winning nominee, candidate, question, or issue does not exceed the number of votes cast for the declared defeated nominee, candidate, question, or issue by a margin of one-half of 1 percent or more of the total vote, the appropriate board of elections shall order a recount.”
Board of Elections Director Josh Pedaline said the Marion, Morrow and Union boards of elections are required to submit their canvass results from the bond issue election to Delaware County since it is the largest of the counties in which the school district is located.
According to Herron and Pedaline, a total of 953 provisional ballots and 20 absentee ballots were approved by the board to be counted for the Nov. 3 election. A total of 86 ballots that did not meet requirements were not counted.
The Delaware County Board of Elections will gather again at 7:30 a.m. Friday for a regular meeting and to complete the official canvass. All results must be submitted to the office of the Secretary of State by Nov. 24.