MOUNT VERNON — Final, unofficial results show nearly three-fourths of registered voters in Knox County cast a vote in this election cycle.
Knox County Board of Elections (BOE) numbers show that 31,871 — or 72.75% — completed a ballot.
Knox County overwhelmingly voted for Republicans in this election. Donald Trump received 22,673 (71.62%) votes for president.
Local uncontested races
A near-majority of county-wide elected positions ran uncontested except for Teressa Bemiller’s open Knox County commissioner’s seat. Barry Lester defeated Chuck Rogers for that position.
Knox County Prosecutor Chip McConville won his reelection bid with 23,792 votes. Knox County Sheriff candidate Daniel Weckesser won with 24,315 votes.
Knox County Clerk of Courts Christy Milligan Staton won with 23,795 votes and county recorder candidate Tara Stiltner registered 23,693.
County Treasurer candidate Connie Durbin won with 24,006 votes.
County engineer Cameron Keaton won his reelection bid with 23,656 votes.
County coroner Jennifer Ogle also won with 24,651 votes.
Six tax levies issues failed
Six tax levies failed Tuesday night in Knox County.
Central Ohio Joint Fire District’s replacement levy started strong, with 60.59% of the votes registering yes and 39.41% against. That margin dwindled as the results came in, and the levy went down to defeat 51.94% against and 48.06% in favor.
The Clay Township renewal tax levy failed with 53.21% against it and 46.79% for it. It was the only renewal levy that failed.
Fredericktown Recreation District’s replacement levy failed with 56.69% against it and 43.31% for it.
Voters failed to pass a bond issue and tax levy for a new pre-K to 12th grade school building in Loudonville-Perrysville Exempted Village Schools Tuesday night.
The bond issue and tax levy received 94 votes against or 61.84% of the total votes cast in Knox County. In Ashland County, approximately 1,900 (56.13%) voters went against the issue, with 1,485 (43.87%) for it.
Utica’s fire-proposed additional tax levy failed with 56.32% votes against it and 43.68% for it.
Pike Township’s proposed tax levy failed with 65.01% votes against it and 34.99% for it.