man and woman sitting at a table with ballots on the table
Liberty Township poll workers Dave Godwin, foreground, and Shirleen Mooney had a quiet day during the May 6, 2025, special election. Credit: Cheryl Splain

MOUNT VERNON — Roughly 9.75% of Knox County’s 43,952 registered voters turned out for the May 6 special election.

Once again, fire levies received mixed results.

The Central Ohio Joint Fire District’s second attempt to pass a four-year, 5.925-mill replacement levy was soundly rejected.

Of the 794 votes cast, 568 voters said no (71.54%). Only 228 (28.46%) approved the replacement levy.

Clinton Township residents renewed a five-year fire/EMS levy.

Of the 218 votes cast, 72.94% approved the renewal; 27.06% voted no.

Voters responded to County Line Joint Fire District’s request to pass a five-year, 4.5-mill levy, with roughly 54.27% of voters approving.

The district includes Morgan Township in Knox County, Washington Township in Licking County, as well as the Village of Utica.

Morgan Township voters approved the levy by a margin of 52.4% (124) for and 47.46% (112) against.

Voters in Licking County approved the levy by a margin of 56.14% to 43.86%.

Schools

It appears North Fork Local School District voters passed a 1% income tax renewal by an extremely tight margin, 50.73% to 49.38%.

Of the 1,218 votes cast in Licking County, the renewal passed 53.04% to 46.96%.

However, Knox residents defeated it by a 51.8% to 48.42% margin.

Loudonville-Perrysville Schools did not fare as well, with voters in Knox and Ashland counties resoundingly defeating a bond issue to pay for a new school building for the second time.

In Knox County, voters rejected the issue 68.54% (61) to 31.46% (28).

Ashland County voters defeated the levy 57.14% to 42.86%.

Recreation district

Fredericktown Recreation District voters approved a 1.5-mill renewal levy that the district has operated on since its formation in the 1970s.

Of the 623 votes cast, 59.07% (368) approved the levy, while 40.93% (255) voted no.

Knox County voters reflected the statewide trend and approved State Issue 2 handily, 60.87% to 39.13%.

Voters cast a total of 4,252 ballots. All results are unofficial until certified by the Knox County Board of Elections.

A Christian ultrarunner who likes coffee and quilting