Five race outcomes hinge on provisional voters

YOUNGSTOWN — It could be close to a month before official winners are declared in as many as five closely contested elections in Mahoning County.

Board of elections workers have to wait at least 11 days after the election to start counting provisional ballots.

Provisional ballots are cast by people who move into a voting district no more than 30 days before an election, those who changed their name [typically through marriage] without notifying the board of elections or fail to provide a valid form of identification when they go to the polls.

Those provisional voters could decide the outcome of as many as five races from Tuesday’s election.

Those races, with the unofficial results from Tuesday’s election included but without those who voted provisionally, are:

Boardman Board of Education in which John Landers has 5,558 votes for the third and final spot on the board compared to incumbent Niklaus Amstutz with 5,543 votes.

Campbell Board of Education with Diana Petruska ahead of Crystal Elash 1,274 to 1,268 for the third and final spot on the board.

Lowellville Board of Education with incumbent John A. Wilaj ahead of incumbent Lori Carlson by 6 votes, 529 to 525 for the third and final spot on the board.

Beaver Township trustee in which incumbent Thaddeus J. Lyda Jr. has 896 votes compared to 880 votes for Alfred Barney Davison for the second and final seat up for grabs this election.

Coitsville Township trustee with Gregory T. Haren, with 342 votes, beating 24-year incumbent Walter Avdey with 334 votes.

For the complete story, read Thursday’s Vindicator or Vindy.com