Springdale council certifies Aug. 12 primary results, names six nominees for November ballot

SPRINGDALE — At a special meeting Tuesday at the Canyon Community Center, the Springdale Town Council, acting as the board of municipal canvassers, certified the results of the Aug. 12 municipal primary and named six nominees to appear on the Nov. ballot.

Town Clerk Erin, serving as the town’s election official, read the official summary prepared by the Washington County election officer and provided vote totals: "There were 381 active voters and 246 votes cast, which is a total of 64.57% turnout," Erin said. She said 15 ballots were not counted: two were "unable to cure," seven were returned after the 8 p.m. election-night deadline and six were returned as undeliverable.

Erin declared Barbara Bruno and Pat Campbell the top two vote earners in the mayoral primary and Randy Aton, Tom Kennison, Noel Benson and Jack Burns the top four vote earners in the town council race, saying: "These six candidates will be certified as nominees for placement on the November ballot." The council then moved, seconded and voted to certify those results.

Councilors asked one substantive procedural question during the short meeting about undervotes. A councilor asked whether an "undervote" meant a voter did not vote at all or voted for fewer candidates than allowed; Erin explained both meanings and clarified that "if they voted for anything less than they were allowed to vote for," that registers as an undervote. She also said there were zero overvotes in both contests and quantified undervotes: four undervotes in the mayoral race and 40 undervotes in the town council race.

The certification motion passed by voice vote; the roll call on the motion recorded aye votes from Kyla Topham, Pat Campbell, Barbara Bruno, Randy Aton and Jack Burns. After certifying the canvas the council immediately moved to adjourn; the meeting lasted about four minutes.

The Washington County election officer provided the official summary that the town clerk read and the council’s action formally places the named candidates on the town’s November ballot. No additional reports or contested challenges were raised during the meeting.