Trumbull Democrat-Republican cooperation improved in primary

Trumbull Democrat-Republican cooperation improved in primary

Trumbull Democrat-Republican cooperation improved in primary

WARREN

After some prodding, Trumbull County Democrats and Republicans cooperated more May 7 with regard to a rule requiring them to ride together to return election results to the elections board.

On Monday, the board reviewed the performance of poll workers in the May 7 primary, giving almost all a passing grade.

That is in contrast to a report in March indicating that in 41 of 210 polling precincts in the Nov. 6 election, only one of four poll workers for each precinct brought the election results back to be counted at the elections board.

The rules — which exist to reduce the chances of vote tampering — require that one Democrat and one Republican ride together to bring voting results and equipment back.

Kelly Pallante, elections board director, said at the time the problem seemed to be that some Democrats and Republicans “don’t get along,” don’t like each other’s driving or don’t like the other’s cigarette smoking.

Trumbull’s performance Nov. 6 triggered a response from Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted, who recommended that the Trumbull elections board designate before the election who the driver and rider will be for each precinct.

The board adopted that policy and indicated that poll workers who fail to follow the policy will be fired.

Jodi Fiorenzo Dibble, deputy director, said the new policy achieved compliance in all of the 135 polling precincts that were open May 7 except one. In that case, the parties indicated there was a “miscommunication,” so the poll workers involved are being given one more chance, Fiorenzo Dibble said.