VOTE RECOUNT IN DEFIANCE

An error in vote count­ing involv­ing early bal­lots in Defi­ance County has reversed the out­come of Defi­ance City Hall’s 0.3-percent income tax request, and has sent one city coun­cil race to an auto­matic recount.

On Elec­tion Day the count was 1,430 votes for the tax and 1,445 against. How­ever, the final cer­ti­fied tally Wednes­day which was announced by the county’s board of elec­tions shows the count at 1,644 votes for the tax and 1,616 against.

Also, Demo­c­rat John Hancock’s lead in the city coun­cil race for an at-large seat, has dropped from 18 votes to three, and will require a recount. Han­cock was third among five can­di­dates for one of council’s three at-large seats.