Results show low voter turnout Tuesday

Friday’s canvass could bring changes to Tuesday’s unofficial election results.

A few races, including Pomona mayor and Ottawa School Board, came down to just a handful of votes, which could be altered during the canvass when write-in votes and provisional ballots are calculated.

Unofficial voter turnout shows 14.8 percent of registered voters cast their ballot Tuesday. That’s even less than the 2007 election, when just 19 percent of voters cast their ballots.

In the race for Pomona mayor, newcomer Joann Hancock edged out Mayor Richard Adler with 102 and 97 votes, respectively.

Pomona voters had the highest voter turnout throughout the county, with 28.97 percent, an unofficial results report from the courthouse said. Of the 725 registered voters in the Pomona Township, where residents voted for mayor and city council, 210 cast their votes, the report said.  

Only four votes separated incumbent Jeanette Lowry and newcomer Brandon Jones when the last round of votes came in Tuesday night for the Ottawa School Board, a race that could see changes after the canvass.

Lowry earned 619 votes, while Jones tallied 623.

USD 290 voters had the strongest showing in Ottawa’s 8th Precinct, which voted at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 401 W. 13th, with 18.82 percent, the report said.

A lack of candidates left some positions on the Lane, Princeton and Rantoul city councils and the Lane mayoral position up to write-in votes. Many other candidates in the county’s school board and city council races ran unopposed or faced little opposition.

Write-ins could affect some races, including the race for Williamsburg City Council.

Gene Hirt, Dennis Norton and Pennie Westfall ran uncontested for three open spots and received 33, 35 and 23 votes, respectively. However, there were 70 write-in votes, the report said, which could impact the outcome.

In Richmond, Mayor Mary Ann Platt received 42 votes, compared to 32 votes that went to write-ins, the report said. Write-in totals won’t be known until Friday’s canvass, which is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. at the Franklin County Courthouse, 315 S. Main St.

Jenalea Myers can be e-mailed at jmyers@ottawaherald.com.