Election board puts Youngstown ward proposal on ballot

YOUNGSTOWN — The Mahoning County Board of Elections unanimously voted today to put a charter-amendment proposal to reduce the number of wards in Youngstown from seven to five on the Nov. 4 ballot.

At a meeting last week, the board refused to certify the proposal because city council submitted two nearly identical documents about the same issue.

Since then, the county prosecutor and the Ohio Secretary of State’s office told the board that the city law director had authority over Youngstown charter issues.

Law Director Martin Hume was at today’s board meeting and recommended one amendment on the issue be on the ballot. The board complied.

Also today, the board adopted the secretary of state’s recommended in-person early voting times and dates. A judge recently ruled that early voting would start Sept. 30 though state officials are appealing the decision.

For the complete story, read Friday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com