Advance votes bode well for sales tax

7:45 p.m. - 294 "yes" to 55 "no" with all 26 precincts reporting.  According to Shelly Vopat, Ellsworth County Clerk and Election Officer, 8.4% of registered voters voted.

See the March 9 issue of the I-R for more details.

7:40 p.m. - 223 "yes" to 42 "no" with 22 out of 26 precincts reporting.

7:30 p.m. - 219 "yes" to 36 "no" with 20 of 26 precincts reporting.

7:20 p.m. - 163 "yes" to 29 "no" with 14 of 26 precincts reporting.

7:05 p.m. - With 80 advance votes counted, the 1/2-cent sales tax was ahead 67 "yes" votes to 13 "no."

Voters went to the polls Tuesday to vote on the tax, which is a continuation of a tax implemented in the late 1990s to pay for construction of the Ellsworth County Medical Center, which opened in 1999. Revenue from the sales tax will be used for repair and construction of county bridges and needs at the Ellsworth County Medical Center. The tax is expected to raise about $300,000 a year.

Watch www.indyrepnews.com during the evening for updates.