By GLORIA PLEVA KACIK
Contributing Writer
Although most of the races from the November 3 election have been completed for all intents and purposes, the Presidential race, at the time of this writing, is still up for grabs between Donald Trump/Michael Pence and Joseph Biden/Kamala Harris. At this time, there are several states where the final vote is in question. Of course, the popular vote does not necessarily determine the election. According to the Library of Congress, “when citizens cast their ballots for president in the popular vote, they elect a slate of electors. Electors then cast the votes that decide who becomes president of the United States.”
According to the Library of Congress, “following election day, the states are to count and certify popular vote results according to their respective statutory and procedural requirements. When the states have completed their vote counts and ascertained the official results, the U.S. Code (3 U.S.C. §6) requires the state governors to prepare, ‘as soon as practicable,’ documents known as Certificates of Ascertainment of the vote. The certificates must list the names of the electors chosen by the voters and the number of votes received in the popular election results, also the names of all losing candidates for elector, and the number of votes they received.” If the vote is contested, states have until December 8, known as the Safe Harbor deadline, to provide the election results. The electors then vote in their states on the Monday after the second Wednesday in December. This year, the meeting is December 14. Those results must then be delivered to the designated officials by December 23. On January 6, 2021, the Senate and House of Representatives will meet in a joint session at the Capital to count the electoral votes and declare the results. While they announce the results, members may object to the returns of any individual state, made in writing, by at least one member of each of the Senate and House of Representatives. At that point, the joint session will recess and the two houses will separate and debate the question for a maximum of two hours. They then reassemble and announce the results. An objection must be approved by both House and Senate to be excluded. The President and Vice President will then be inaugurated on January 20, 2021.
The following, are the unofficial election results posted by the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections.
Representative to Congress (16th District)
Aaron Paul Godfrey, Democrat 60,164
Anthony Gonzalez, Republican 80,589
State Senator (24th District)
Tom Jackson, Democrat 92,464
Matt Dolan, Republican 108.876
State Representative (7th District)
Joan T. Sweeny, Democrat 26,268
Thomas F. Patton, Republican 36,278
Of the results of the four North Royalton issues, Mayor Larry Antoskiewicz stated that he has always been respectful of the decisions of the residents in the outcomes of elections. “I just know that all of the issues were based on recommendations from the Charter Review Commission, a group of residents.”
Issue 23 NORTH ROYALTON approved 10,768 to 3,970
Shall Article III, Section (f) of the Charter of the City of North Royalton be amended to provide that in the event of a declared emergency that encompasses the City of North Royalton, Council retains the authority to meet remotely or suspend or postpone its meetings until practicable?
Issue 24 NORTH ROYALTON failed 11,023 to 4,424
Shall the Charter of the City of North Royalton be amended to repeal and replace Article VII to create a new Department of Public Safety, which shall include the Divisions of Police and Fire?
North Royalton Police Chief Ken Bilinovich stated, “I think the voters made their wishes well known. I think it’s a good decision, keeping your safety services non-political. We have been doing it that way for over seventy years, I’m glad we’re keeping it that way.”
Issue 25 NORTH ROYALTON passed 11,141 to 3,407
Shall Article X of the Charter of the City of North Royalton be amended to authorize the Director of Municipal Parks, Properties, Cemeteries and Recreation be responsible for the administration of the Municipal Cemetery?
Issue 26 NORTH ROYALTON failed 8,352 to 6,252
Shall Article XVI, Section (h) of the Charter of the City of North Royalton be amended to authorize Council in the instance of an emergency that significantly affects the duties and obligations of the municipality, to waive the requirement of public bidding and where public bidding is employed, to allow Council to choose the lowest and/or best bidder where appropriate?
Issue 70 CUYAHOGA COUNTY LIBRARY DISTRICT passed 182,424 to 123,667.
An additional tax for the benefit of the Cuyahoga County Public Library for the purpose of current expenses at a rate not exceeding 1 mill for each one dollar of valuation, which amounts to 10 cents for each one hundred dollars of valuation, for a continuing period of time, commencing in 2020, first due in calendar year 2021.