If you’ve ever had a doubt that every vote counts, look no further than the results of two Mahoning Valley issues in last month’s general election.

In Mahoning County’s village of Sebring, a 2-mill parks and recreation levy, which was winning on the night of the election by a single vote, ultimately ended in a tie — meaning it failed.

A recent recount determined the issue ended in a tie at 355. In Ohio, issues must receive a majority vote to pass, board of elections officials said.

The tax levy would have generated $104,000 annually for five years. The owner of a $100,000 home would have paid $70 more in taxes per year.

Often, we hear residents bemoan that their votes just don’t matter. Many don’t bother to turn out on Election Day, perhaps for that very reason.

In Mahoning County, 25.07 percent of registered voters cast ballots on Nov. 2. Of the 163,339 voters registered in that county, that’s only 40,951 ballots cast.

In Sebring, 710 voters cast ballots on the parks issue that ended in the tie. Ironically, two other issues on the ballot in the village saw a larger number of votes cast. A total of 717 votes were cast on a 3-mill fire levy. And 726 votes were cast on a 1-mill recreational levy. Both of those levies, which were renewals, passed easily.

A handful of these voters, however, inexplicably opted not to vote on the additional parks and recreation levy. Had just one of those voters checked the box while at the polls, it would have made the difference.

And in Trumbull County, this year’s general election saw only a 22.37 percent turnout. Of the 136,362 registered voters in the county, only 30,507 voters turned out to vote on Nov. 2. In Farmington Township, just 345 people voted on the road levy in question.

Had there been a better turnout in Farmington Township, perhaps the results of a separate issue would be different.

There, a 2.5-mill, five-year additional road levy passed by just one vote. Results of the race, following recounts, both by hand and automated, were certified recently as a 173-172 win for the new tax.

The win means the owner of a $100,000 home will pay $87.50 more in taxes per year on the tax that will generate $115,300 a year to be spent on road, street and bridge repairs in the township, along with street resurfacing and construction.

“It should show people, for sure, that every vote counts,” said Stephanie Penrose, director of the Trumbull County Board of Elections.

Indeed, it does.

With opportunities to vote early, typically for about a month before election day, and even to cast ballots by mail in Ohio, there really is no excuse not to become informed and vote your conscience.

At the end of the day, we all have heard the saying that every vote matters. Whether you agree or disagree with passage of these true grassroots election issues or any other close races and issues in any election, it’s clear that every vote really does matter.

editorial@vindy.com