(OLNEY) Nearly 23% of the registered voters in Richland County made their choices known by casting votes in the 2026 General Primary Election yesterday, setting the stage for the General Election later this year in November on the state and federal levels. In Richland County’s only contested race, Chelsey Clark had 61% of the votes to beat Mark McCormick, 1,182 to 743, to fill the vacancy of the Honorable Ray Vaughn for Judge of the Circuit Court of Richland County. A question on the ballot was for the residents of Olney in a non-binding referendum on whether to allow cannabis dispensaries in Olney, where there were 648 “no” votes and 521 “yes” votes as just over 55% of those voting said “no” to the issue. All the other candidates were unopposed.
(NEWTON) Just over 28% of the registered voters in Jasper County cast votes in yesterday’s 2026 General Primary Election. The only contested race was on the Republican ticket to represent District 3 for a 2-year term on the Jasper County Board, where Doug Weddell got nearly 56% of the votes to defeat Richard Lindemann II, 290 to 230. On the question about federal public K-12 funds, there were 1,051 “yes” votes and 588 “no” votes, as the question had just over 64% of the support from those in favor. All the other candidates were unopposed.