It's Election Day 2023: Here are our latest updates on voting, Ohio issues and more

Here's our latest coverage of today's election. We're focused most on Issue 1 on abortion and Issue 2 for recreational marijuana, the Akron Board of Education and suburban mayor's races in Barberton, Green, Norton and Tallmadge.

See all the local election results here with news coverage below.

Ohio Issue 1 results: Abortion amendment dominates today's election

Ohio Issue 2 results: Ohio voters to decide today on legalizing recreational marijuana

Election results could forecast 2024: 3 critical races for President Joe Biden to watch, including Ohio's Issue 1

Sykes, Hall, Molenaur win Akron school board race

A suspenseful Akron school board race is finally over with former State Rep. Barbara Sykes, youth program facilitator Summer Hall and incumbent Rene Molenaur taking the three open seats.

The surprise of the evening was Hall, who managed to climb her way from the back of the pack to second place in a race that well-known names like former school board President Patrick Bravo.

With outstanding absentee and provisional ballots still arriving or not yet counted, Sykes collected 25.72% of the total vote. Hall got 13.47% and Molenaur 11.83%. Fourth place candidates Gwen Bryant and Phil Montgomery are about nine-tenths of a percentage point behind Molenaur. That gap of more than 750 votes would have to close to within a half of a percentage point to trigger an automatic recount.

Summit County election report goes analog after software glitch

The interactive election results page on the Summit County Board of Elections' website has been replaced with a static PDF in response to a software failure.

"It’s basically back to the way we used to do it," said Bill Rich, chair of the election board.

The board switched its reporting style last year from static to interactive when it contracted Tenex, a company that also provides electronic poll books used by poll workers and voters at precinct voting locations.

“When it works it’s much better. But it just didn’t work property this evening," Rich said. "And we haven’t been able to get Tenex to fix it.”

The glitch has no impact on the counting of ballots.

About 21% of precincts were being reported at 10:25 p.m.

Kurt leading Akron court clerk race

Sandra Kurt, the Summit County clerk, is still leading current Akron clerk Debbie Walsh in the Akron Municipal Court clerk's race. Kurt has 58% of the vote, with absentees and some precincts now reporting, according to unofficial results from 98 of 152 precincts.

Race for third Akron school board seat is a nail biter

With two clear leaders in the Akron school board race, four candidates are vying for a third seat with 81 of 118 precincts reporting.

Former State Rep. Barbara Sykes and incumbent Rene Molenaur are ahead with 26% and 13% of the total vote, respectively. The next four candidates are Summer Hall (12.19%), Phil Montgomery (11.55%), Gwen Bryant (11.25%) and Patrick Bravo (11.22%).

Abortion doctor on Issue 1: 'People do appreciate ... abortion providers'

Dr. David Burkons, who runs the busiest network of abortion clinics, including Northeast Ohio Women’s Center in Cuyahoga Falls, said passage of Issue 1 is voters telling Ohio Republicans how out of touch they are with their constituents.

It's a "losing issue for them," he said. And it reaffirms that the people, if not the majority party in the state legislature, view abortion as health care.

“People do appreciate what abortion providers do,” Burkons said, stepping out of a noisy watch party in downtown Columbus hotel to take a reporter's phone call. “And I think the key thing is for people to realize [abortion] as healthcare."

A resounding vote for Issue 1, perhaps 60% or better, “is going to go a long way toward maybe normalizing abortion care,” he said. “But who knows? I mean, for me, it means that I can keep working and provide the care that we want to provide for Ohio women.”

Sarah McGervey, executive director of Northeast Ohio Right to Life, said she would not be commenting on the outcome of the Issue 1 vote until all ballots cast on Election Day are counted.

In the nearly 50 years that federal case law guaranteed abortion access, Republicans passed draconian limitations knowing they could not lawfully take effect, Burkons said. Then Roe v. Wade fell in 2022 and a six-week abortion ban temporarily became reality.

Like the “dog that catches the car,” Burkons said, Republicans now know the electorate can bite back. He hopes the Ohio victory for abortion rights helps the GOP reconsider its hardline opposition on abortion as a litmus test for its candidates and party platform.

“I think that some of these politicians – maybe not in the really, really hard-right districts – are going to realize that this is a losing issue for them,” Burkons said.

Ohio voters legalize marijuana with Issue 2 vote

Ohioans voted Tuesday to approve Issue 2, making the Buckeye State the 24^th to legalize adult-use marijuana. The Associated Press called the election in favor of the measure at 56% of voters supporting it.

Issue 2, which goes into effect Dec. 7, will allow adults 21 and older to buy, possess and grow cannabis. Products would be taxed 10% on top of the state sales tax, with revenue going into four pots: a social equity and jobs program, municipalities with dispensaries, a substance abuse fund and administrative costs.

Ohio Issue 1 passes for abortion rights

Ohioans voted to enshrine access to abortion and other reproductive rights in the state constitution Tuesday, pushing back against decades of GOP restrictions and shoring up protections more than a year after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.

According to unofficial election results, Issue 1 is passing, 58-42%.

Several news organizations, including the Associated Press, have called the race.

'Error in software' impacting voting report on Summit County races

Deputy Director Pete Zeigler confirmed that a glitch in the software reporting results on the Summit County Board of Elections website is causing many races to appear as though all precincts are in when, in fact, none are fully in.

The "error in the software" will not likely be resolved this evening. Anyone watching the Summit County Board of Elections live results page should check the "Precincts reporting" at the top of the page. As of 9:08 p.m., only 6 of the county's 371 precincts were in, not the 100% reported for many of the races listed below on the live tracker.

Summit County Developmental Disabilities Board passing with early votes

The Summit County Developmental Disabilities Board's replacement levy is leading by 67.65% of the vote, with just preliminary absentee votes reported so far.

The 4.5-mill, 6-year issue, a proposed replacement tax levy, would generate about $66.1 million annually. Homeowners with a home valued at $100,000 will pay $158 a year, which will cost homeowners $3.58 more per month per $100,000 appraised value.

Mayor-elect Shammas Malik: 'We're going to change our direction'

In a speech to fellow Democrats and Akronites gathered at the Akron Civic Theatre, Mayor-elect Shammas Malik, as he has since winning the primary in May, gave his vision for change.

"We're going to change our direction," he said. "If we are going to change the way people feel when they walk around with their head down and their shoulders shrugged, if we are going to give people hope, if we're gonna give our children, our youth, hope for a city where they can have a happy, fulfilling, thriving life, we have to be a safer city, we have to be a city with better better housing and better education, and more jobs and better paying jobs. And that is the work that we are going to do."

"We can't do it alone," Malik said. "We are going to do it together."

What happens if Ohio Issue 2 passes?

With six counties yet to report preliminary early ballots, Issue 2 is passing with 56% of the vote, a narrower lead than the 63% approval, so far, for Issue 1.

Issue 2 would allow adults 21 and older to buy, possess and grow cannabis. Products would be taxed 10% on top of the state sales tax, with revenue going into four pots: a social equity and jobs program, municipalities with dispensaries, a substance abuse fund and administrative costs.

If passed, Issue 2 would make Ohio the 24th state to legalize adult-use marijuana − something proponents say is long overdue. Critics worry the program could endanger children, increase traffic accidents and create headaches for employers trying to hire.

Who’s leading in Green, Tallmadge and Norton races?

In Green, Councilman Rocco Yeargin is leading Councilwoman Barbara Crouse Babbitt 1,054 to 777 in the preliminary early vote count, or 57.56% to 42.44%.

In Tallmadge, Democrat Carol Siciliano-Kilway led Republican Dennis K. Loughry 896 to 487, or 64.79% to 35.21%. Both Sicilino-Kilway and Loughry are on city council and seeking to replace longtime Mayor David Kline, who decided not to run again.

In the three-person Norton mayor's race, Mayor Mike Zita was outpacing challengers Amber Johnson and Councilwoman Charlotte Whipkey. Zita had 382 votes, with 171 for Johnson and 59 for Whipkey.

Get more on these races here.

Sandra Kurt leads in clerk of courts race, Akron school board results coming in

In the closely watched race for Akron clerk of court, Sandra Kurt, the current Summit County clerk, is leading Debbie Walsh, who was appointed Akron clerk two years ago. With just absentee votes in, Kurt is now claiming 64% of the vote.

A Democrat has never won this seat.

In the Barberton Municipal Judges races, incumbents Todd McKenney and Diana Stevenson are leading their challengers Cletus Pulliam and Steve Elliott, who are Summit County judges. McKenney has 71% of the vote, while Stevenson has 65%, with just absentee votes reported so far.

In the eight-person race for three seats on the Akron Public Schools board, former state representative Barbara Sykes received the largest share of the absentee ballots, totaling almost double the next person behind her, Rene Molenaur. In third place was Patrick Bravo, followed by Gwen Bryant and Phil Montgomery.

Beacon Journal reporter Stephanie Warsmith has more on these races here.

Mayor-elect Shammas Malik takes resounding lead in Akron

In Akron, mayor-elect Shammas Malik has 97% of the absentee vote, an insurmountable lead over his only opponent, a write-in candidate.

Barberton Mayor William Judge has taken an early lead over challenger Megann Eberhart in the early results. Judge, a Democrat, is leading 701 to 375, or 65.15% to 34.85% over Eberhart, a Republican.

Summit County early votes in on Issue 1 and 2

With 20 counties yet to report, Summit County has published the preliminary results of early votes for Issue 1, the constitutional right to abortion, and Issue 2, a law legalizing marijuana. Results are now coming for local races on the county election board’s website.

Issue 1 vote is passing statewide with 65% of the preliminary vote. Issue 2 is passing with 57% of the vote.

In Summit County, 72% of early votes support Issue 1. And 61% of early votes support Issue 2.

Issue 1 ahead with less than half of Ohio counties reporting

With less than half of Ohio's 88 counties reporting preliminary early votes, Issue 1 is ahead with 338,808 of the 509,431 ballots counted so far. That's 66.5%, a figure that is sure to change as more early votes are counted and the first of the Election Day ballots are counted and reported.

Summit County, as of 7:56 p.m., has yet to report early vote counts.

Reporting on early ballots expected soon as polls close

Polls have now closed in Ohio at 7:30 p.m.

As bipartisan teams prepare to transport ballots and memory cards from voting machines in Summit County’s 158 polling locations, workers at the central office on Grant Street will publish the preliminary results of absentee ballots processed and tabulated so far.

The initial reporting of these early votes will cover absentee ballots cast in person at the Early Vote Center or received by mail or left in the dropbox at the board of elections office before the polls closed. Mail-in ballots postmarked by Monday that arrive four days after the election will be counted if in proper order.

Summit County voters requested 43,279 absentee ballots in this November election, a 44% increase from the August special election.

Early voting turnout may preview tightening Issue 1 race

In the proxy war over abortion rights in August, 22 Ohio counties rejected an effort by Republicans, who knew abortion rights would be on November ballot, to make it harder to amend the state constitution.

Now, with abortion rights plainly on the ballot, those 22 counties are lagging the other 66 in at least one measure of enthusiasm — the early vote.

A Beacon Journal analysis of absentee ballots cast through Sunday, the last day of in-person early voting, shows an 11% increase in turnout among the 22 counties that kept it easier in August to enshrine abortions rights in the Ohio Constitution this November. But turnout is nearly double (up 20%) in the 66 counties that wanted to make it harder to amend the constitution.

Our analysis includes Cuyahoga County absentee ballot data from Nov. 3 and 4 that is not reported in the Secretary of State's daily reports.

The data do not tell the whole story of early voting or the current election. People who saw the August Issue 1, which would have required a 60% vote instead of a simple majority to amend the constitution, as bad for democracy may also oppose abortion. And tens of thousands of mail-in ballots are expected to arrive and be counted at county boards of elections in the next four days.

But surging enthusiasm among the 66 more conservative counties could erode the lead abortion rights supporters thought they had in recent polling. A Baldwin Wallace University survey conducted after early voting began last month showed 58% of Ohioans support the current Issue 1.

Turnout statewide, compared to August, was down the most for Cuyahoga, Hamilton, Lucas and Portage counties. And up the most for Shelby, Franklin, Stark and Summit.

Akron voter points out medicinal benefits of marijuana

Roughly 20 people came and went from St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Akron around 2:30 p.m. to cast their ballots, several of them on their lunch break.

A couple voters chatted with a reporter at the polling place about their choices.

Kyle Miller said he voted yes on both Issues 1 and 2.

On Issue 1, he said he voted yes because he believes that people should be able to make decisions regarding their own bodies and that the government shouldn't have a say in those decisions.

Miller voted yes on Issue 2 because smoking marijuana and getting a six-pack after work are not that different, he said. He also extolled the benefits of medicinal marijuana, saying that people might benefit if it was more widely available.

Judy James said she also voted yes on Issue 1.

"I've just always felt very strongly that it's a women's right to choose," the 67-year-old said.

She also voted yes on Issue 2.

"Well, alcohol's legal. Why isn't marijuana?" James asked.

Lifetime resident observed 'highest turn out he's seen' in Norton

A bit before 2 p.m., about 15 people were casting their ballots at the Norton Community Center.

A few chatted with a reporter at the polling place.

Aaron Burnette, sat in his truck outside the community center and said this was the highest election turnout he's seen in his lifetime of living in Norton.

For mayor, the 47-year-old cast his vote for Amber Johnson. On Issues 1 and 2, he voted no on both.

Burnette didn't elaborate on why he voted no on Issue 1, but said voting no on Issue 2 was "just a personal preference."

"Having children, I wanted to take a strong stance on the drug issue," he said.

Kasey Bolyard, 33, also voted no on both issues. Her no vote on Issue 1 was motivated by her religious pro-life stance and her special needs son, she said.

Bolyard voted Issue 2 down because she wasn't pleased with the particulars of how the law would be executed should it pass. Though she said she is pro-decriminalization of marijuana.

"I believe that all of the taxation on it and all of the regulation — I don't know if it's quite been figured out yet," she said. "So I'm rethinking the issue, coming at it from a different angle, and I would support it if some of the things were changed."

For mayor, Bolyard also cast her vote for Johnson. She said she was won over by Johnson because her argument for her candidacy was more compelling than incumbent Mike Zita's.

Linda Carter, 75, said she voted no on Issues 1 and 2 because her Bible study group suggested it and because of her anti-abortion stance.

For mayor, Carter said she voted for Charlotte Whipkey, saying that she would've voted for Johnson, but Johnson was listed as a Democrat on the ballot.

"They run our country into the ground," Carter said.

Green candidates set up shop outside Uniontown polling place

A steady stream of voters filtered in and out of the Queen of Heaven Catholic Church in Uniontown during the lunch hour.

In the parking lot outside, several Green candidates were set up. Among them were mayoral candidate Rocco Yeargin and council-at-large candidate Erin Yoder. They were each optimistic about their chances of victory in their respective races.

Rick Taylor told a reporter at the polling place that he voted no on Issue 1 because he felt it "went too far." When asked to elaborate, he said that too much was added into the proposed amendment, but he didn't offer specifics.

Taylor also voted no on Issue 2 because he personally is not a fan of marijuana, though he mentioned he has friends who are.

For mayor, Taylor said he voted for Yeargin because believes he will lead the city in the right direction moving forward.

Craig Greenlee also voted for Yeargin. He said Yeargin's experience on council showed that he was best the choice for mayor.

On Issues 1 and 2, Greenlee voted yes on both. He said he believes women should make their own decisions and that he's seen recreational marijuana legalized in other states with no negative consequences.

Barberton men share why they voted no on Issues 1 and 2

At around 12:30 p.m., less than 10 people were casting their ballots at the Active Adult Center in Barberton.

Two older gentlemen shared their thoughts on Issues 1 and 2 with a reporter at the polling place.

Both men voted no both issues.

"I believe in certain situations it's okay for women to have abortions, especially if they are at risk for health," George (who did not want share his last name or age) said. "But generally speaking, abortion are killing an innocent child and that child should have the right to life and a right to enjoy this world."

On Issue 2, George said he voted no because he doesn't want any other "illicit drug on the street."

On Issue 1, Matthew (who also did not want to share his last name or age), said "if someone doesn't want to have a baby, they should practice safe sex and not punish the child for any bad decisions they made."

On Issue 2, he said he doesn't think recreational weed needs to widely available. "Tax dollars wouldn't be worth it."

Akron men speak up on Issue 1, women's and girls' rights

At about 11:30 a.m., less than 10 people were casting their ballots at East CLC in Akron.

A few of them shared how they voted with a reporter at the polling place.

Douglas Williams, 59 of Akron, said he voted yes on both Issue 1 and 2. On Issue 1, he said he believes women should have their rights.

"I don't think the government should go in and take their rights to an abortion if a girl gets raped at 10 years old and a judge orders her to have the baby," he said. "That's not right for her to go out of the state to have an abortion."

Williams is referring to a case where a 10-year-old Columbus girl was raped and impregnated by an attacker in 2022. She had to travel to Indiana to get an abortion because the assault occurred right after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. At that time, Ohio banned abortions after six weeks; the girl was six weeks and three days pregnant. The events made national headlines and the attacker was sentenced to life in prison in July.

On Issue 2, Williams said marijuana brings a lot of money into the state, money that could be used for social services to help curb abuse.

Ja’Don Burns, a 25-year-old from Akron, also voted yes on both issues. He said “recreational weed being legalized would keep a lot of people out of trouble."

"There’s people who sell and purchase weed illegally and so much drug violence that goes on, so it would be great for someone just to be allowed to purchase recreationally," he said. "Prisons can actually be filled with murderers and rapists and things like that rather than petty things like possession of only a few grams. There’s no need for that."

On Issue 1, he echoed previous sentiments on women having the right to seek an abortion if she needs it. He said abortion rights should be enshrined in the state constitution, saying women shouldn't have to leave the state to get proper care.

Steven L. Michael, originally from Cincinnati but an Akron resident of more than 40 years, said he voted yes on both issues.

"People should have the freedom to do whatever they want with their body," the 75-year-old said. "I voted yes on Issue 1 so that women can enjoy this freedom."

Gail Artis, also 75 of Akron, said she voted yes on both issues as well.

"It's a woman's choice to do whatever she wants to do with her body," Artis said. "I'm a retired nurse who remembers what it was like before Roe v. Wade and I saw some horrible things that people shouldn't have done to their bodies and I just don't want to go back to before that time. We need to protect women's rights to safely terminate the pregnancy if they choose to."

'My right, my decision,' says young woman in Tallmadge

Around 10:30 a.m., about 15 voters cast their ballots at the Tallmadge Community Center.

A few people shared their thoughts with a reporter at the polling place on how they voted on Issues 1 and 2.

An older man by the name of Joe (he did not want to share his last name or age) said he voted no on both issues. He said he doesn't believe in abortion, saying killing is against God's will. On Issue 2, he said the "state doesn't need to add another drug to the system that's legal just so they can get tax money."

Tyler Hardman, 30 of Tallmadge, said he voted yes on both issues. On Issue 1, he said abortion is a woman's choice if she's at risk and thinks she should be allowed to terminate the baby and that the government shouldn't be able to regulate that.

On Issue 2, Hardman said, "The benefits outweigh any potential cons. Each person should be able to use their own judgment about whether or not they want to use recreational marijuana, it's their right and nothing the government should have a say over."

Emma Douglas-Wolfe, a 21-year-old from Tallmadge, also voted yes on both issues.

"I don't want people making choices over my body when I can make them myself," she said. "It should be my right and my decision."

On Issue 2, Douglas-Wolfe said people already use weed recreationally so why not just legalize it and make it available? She said it's not worse than having alcohol.

In Cuyahoga Falls, women continue to vote yes on Issue 1

Around 9 a.m., about 10 to 15 people cast their votes at Community Vineyard Church in Cuyahoga Falls.

Mother and daughter, Stephanie and Olivia Chew, shared their thoughts on Issue 2 with a reporter at the polling place.

"The tax matters," Stephanie said, "we don't need people going to other states to get it. If it's legal to smoke cigarettes and legal to drink alcohol, recreational marijuana should be legal as well."

"I feel like either way, people are going to do what they can to use marijuana so why not make it safe and legal to obtain?" Olivia added.

On Issue 1, Stephanie said, "I'm a woman, I have a daughter I don't want to send out of state ... and have people going to other states for medical care."

Vickie McVan, 55 of Cuyahoga Falls, said she voted yes on both Issues 1 and 2.

"I'm a woman and I have four daughters and it's imperative to have this right to protect our bodies," she said.

A 60-year-old Air Force veteran, Jeff Slapak, said he voted no on Issue 1 and yes on Issue 2.

"I'm a Christian, I believe in pro life. I believe it's woman's choice, but you can't kill babies and that's what it comes down to (for me)," he said.

On Issue 2, Slapak said he has a medical marijuana license and thinks the issue should pass. He didn't see the harm in recreational marijuana.

What's on the ballot in Summit County, Ohio in 2023?

Our Summit County Voter Guide has information on all of the races and issues.

Just enter your address: 2023 Summit County Interactive Voter Guide

Traditional voter guide: Here's our guide to the 2023 election in Summit County and Ohio Issue 1 and 2

This article will be updated through Election Day and with results as they arrive.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Election results: Live coverage of Akron and Summit County elections