Cherokee Voters Approve Ed-SPLOST, Reject School Takeover Amendment

CANTON, GA — The voters in Cherokee County have spoken, and they have approved a measure to continue a sales tax for education-related projects.

As of 11 p.m. voters in Cherokee County overwhelmingly voted to approved the proposed Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax, unofficial election results show.

According to the Georgia Secretary of State's website, 75,144 voters cast their ballots in favor of the sales tax, opposed to the 28,307 citizens who voted against the measure.

The tax will fund school construction, renovation and repairs; technology; land acquisition; school buses; and retiring bond debt for another five years for the Cherokee County School District.

Cherokee County voters also voted a resounding "no" on the proposal to amend the state constitutional to create an opportunity school district for failing schools. Unofficial numbers show that 64,325 voters rejected the measure, with 40,623 residents voting in favor.

• Check out Cherokee County election results here.
  

Cherokee County voters in Georgia's 11th Congressional District also appear to be sending Barry Loudermilk back to the U.S. House of Representatives. Loudermilk is leading his challenger, Don Wilson, 81,499 to 21,570 votes.

In Holly Springs, voters also appear to have elected Steve Miller to serve as its new mayor. Miller is leading challenger Jim Laughlin with 2,411 to 2,161 votes.

Incumbent Holly Springs City Councilwoman Karen Barnett also fought off challenger Kevin Moore with 2,700 votes to 1,419 votes.

Unsurprisingly, Cherokee County voters also sided with Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump over Democrat Hillary Clinton and Independent Gary Johnson.

Trump garnered 77,085 Cherokee votes, compared to Clinton's 23,651 and Johnson's 4,768 votes.

Out of Cherokee County's 138,809 registered voters, there were 107,661 ballots cast -- or a roughly 77 percent voter turnout, state election results show.

Cherokee County Elections Director Kim Stancil said there weren't any polling issues she was made aware of during Tuesday's balloting.

"It appears that early voting has really put a dent in Election Day," she said. "Most of the poll managers I’ve talked with said that they had a line this morning and then it dropped off around 11 a.m."

Woodstock resident Tamara Berry said she decided to make the trek to the polls because "it's the one chance I can voice my opinion."

Berry, who recently moved to Georgia from Ohio, said none of the issues on Tuesday's ballot stood out as the most important to her, but she nonetheless felt it was her patriotic duty to vote.

Dr. James Woodward noted his choice for president boils down to whether or not he or she will select quality U.S. Supreme Court nominees.

He also voiced his opposition to the constitutional amendment that, if approved, would create an opportunity school district for so-called failing schools.

"I don't like creating a school district that's not accountable to anyone except the state," the retired educator said.

Melissa Smith, who told Patch she voted for Donald Trump, said she felt it was time for change to come to the White House. A Hillary Clinton presidency, she added, would essentially continue along the same ideology as outgoing President Barack Obama.

"And Bill Clinton would be back in the White House," she added.

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