Voters slam door on casino development
It was close but in the end, Marion County voters determined the development of multimillion dollar casino-based businesses was not what they wanted.
By 1 p.m. Thursday, the votes were tallied — 2,577 voted no and 2,377 voted yes, making it fail 52 percent to 48 percent.
Marion County Clerk and Election Officer Carol Maggard said there were 8,957 ballots mailed. Of those, 1,462 ballots were undeliverable where voters had moved and not notified the election officer. Ballots could not be forwarded but returned to the clerk's office.
Some ballots also weren't counted because voters didn't sign return envelopes.
Voters in Harvey and Sumner counties already had approved casino development in non-binding referendum elections. The intent of the special elections prior to January and when legislature is in session, was to apply pressure to state legislators to revise the state's constitution that would allow privately-owned gambling establishments.
