Trumbull elections board rejects about 25 provisional ballots

Staff report

WARREN

The Trumbull County Board of Elections on Friday rejected about 25 provisional ballots cast during the Nov. 5 general election, but none of them was for a tied race for Warren Township trustee.

Among the reasons some of the ballots were rejected was that eight people voted in the wrong precinct and polling location and 16 voted who were not registered anywhere in Ohio.

Provisional ballots are cast if a voter’s eligibility is in question, such as failing to provide proper identification when voting, a changed address or name, failing to update voter-registration information or not appearing on a list of registered voters, according to the Ohio secretary of state’s office.

Elections board Director Kelly Pallante said all 10 provisional ballots cast in the tied Warren Township trustee race between Robert Bush and Phillip Fletcher will be counted in the next week.

Both candidates received 291 votes. Kay Anderson had the most votes. Two seats are open.

Final certification of the votes will take place at a Nov. 25 meeting of the elections board.

In other business, the board approved sending its proposed budget for 2014 to the Trumbull County commissioners. Among the changes for 2014 will be a 12 percent increase in health care costs and one fewer employee in the department.