Kim Geyer kept a one-vote lead on Bob O'Neill after provisional ballots were counted today.

The Butler County Elections Board today reviewed 13 provisional ballots cast in the May 19 primary that were contested during a board meeting earlier in the week.

The board initially affirmed three of those ballots, but later determined one of them was not properly sealed in an envelope. That vote was not counted.

O'Neill and Geyer each gained one vote from the two counted ballots, allowing Geyer to keep her lead.

Both candidates are seeking the second spot on the Republican ballot for Butler County commissioner in the Nov. 3 election.

At the start of the meeting today, eight of the 13 provisional ballots were dismissed after attorneys for both sides investigated the validity of the ballots and agreed they should not count.

However, O'Neill argued for the remaining two ballots to be counted, but Geyer opposed that.

One of those ballots was by a Brady Township woman who allegedly changed her party registration from Democrat to Republican in March.

However, the elections bureau has no record of the change.

The second contested ballot was from an 18-year-old Cranberry Township man who registered to vote for the first time. However, the elections bureau did not have that record for the May 19 primary.

Both of the individuals with contested ballots filled out their voter status forms at fundraising tables for O'Neill, and both of their applications were allegedly taken to the elections bureau by O'Neill or his wife.

The elections bureau recommended to the board on Tuesday to dismiss the ballots. The board listened to testimony from both voters but eventually rejected O'Neill's challenge.

O'Neill has two days to file an appeal to the court of common pleas.

The additional votes increased Geyer's total to 4,286 and O'Neill's to 4,285.