Mill levy vote in limbo

    Holyoke Fire Protection District is still awaiting results on its mill levy election that was on the Nov. 7 ballot.
    Phillips County Clerk and Recorder Beth Zilla explained that there are four pending ballots to potentially be counted in the county.
    The ballots were returned to the voters because the signatures on the ballots didn’t match what was on file. The voters have until eight days after the election (Wednesday, Nov. 15), to return their ballots to be counted.
    With only a three-vote margin on the HFPD mill levy question, the outcome can’t be determined until Nov. 15. The current count shows the measure passing by three votes, 205-202. If it becomes a two-vote difference, a recount will be required, said Zilla.
    An audit of the vote will take place Monday, Nov. 20, to verify the count on the new system. Zilla said her office is required to verify 87 ballots to test the machine to make sure it’s counting accurately.
    She hopes to also canvass the vote that day; however, the canvass deadline is Nov. 25.