Photo by Shelly Hanson Poll Workers, from left, Rosalie Lucas, Karen Grubb and Kathy Probst wait for more people from the Fourth Ward to arrive Tuesday to vote in the primary election.

In the race for Martins Ferry City Council’s 4th Ward seat, the unofficial result is a tie.

During Tuesday’s primary election, the lone race was for a 4th Ward Martins Ferry City Council seat. Councilman Rick Rodgers received 24 votes and his challenger, city resident Larry Deaton, also received 24 votes, according to unofficial vote totals.

Belmont County Board of Elections Director Kelly McCabe said if the board of elections receives any absentee ballots postmarked prior to May 7 in the next seven days, those votes would be added to the official certification.

The certification is scheduled to take place at 4 p.m. May 23 at the board of elections office in St. Clairsville.

At the certification, if the vote still is tied, the board members will have to break the tie. McCabe said there are a few different ways they can do that, according to Ohio law: the chairman can flip a coin; they could draw straws; pick one of the names out of a hat; or cut a deck of cards.

After the tie is broken, an automatic recount then is held. McCabe said since it is just one precinct the recount would be done by hand.

McCabe noted in her years working at the board of elections, she cannot remember there being a tied race between two candidates.

“There has been a tie on issues, but then it just loses,” she said.

Following Tuesday’s vote, Rodgers said he believes there are two absentee ballots out there that will arrive at the board of elections.

“It will be what it will be,” he said. “I’m thankful for those persons who voted for me, and I have faith and I have trust, and hopefully they can read my heart because I tried.”

Deaton said there is nothing left to do but wait and see what happens.

“We’ll see if any ballots come in. We’ll see what the outcome is,” he said.

Deaton noted in terms of voter turnout there likely are only about 300 democrats who live in the 4th Ward. According to the board of elections’ website, there are about 1,100 total voters in the Precinct 13.

Belmont County had no other races during Tuesday’s primary. There were no statewide issues for voters to decide on, either.