Voter turnout was just over 33% for Tuesday’s municipal election; however, tabulating and online posting of results after the polls closed took longer than in previous elections.

County Bureau of Elections director Aaron Sheasley said the delay was intentional.

“We are looking to release data at the same time for transparency purposes,” he said. “We’d rather have it right versus getting something out there fast.”

The Bureau of Elections had no results posted at 11:30 p.m., three and a half hours after polls closed at 8 p.m.

Shortly after 9 p.m., the bureau updated its website to say, “Returns are being tabulated. Please stand by.”

Similar messages were continually posted throughout the evening.

At 10:25 p.m., the bureau promised “results very soon.” At 10:35 p.m., the post said, “Ballots are tabulated. Data is being loaded now.”

An hour later, results still were not posted. Results began to appear just before midnight.

In comparison, Lawrence County was reporting 48 out of 75 precincts as “partially reported,” and had mail-in votes counted by 11 p.m.

By 10 p.m., Mercer County was reporting 25 of 90 precincts counted. At 11 p.m., 90 of 90 precincts were partially reported.

Clarion County also was reporting votes for different races, and Beaver County was reporting its total number of in-person and mail-in votes on its website.

Allegheny County was reporting unofficial results from multiple precincts as well.

In Butler County, 33.12%, or 44,630 of the 134,743 registered county voters, turned out for the election. The election bureau also reported that 35,217 ballots were cast Tuesday and 9,413 ballots were absentee or mail-in ballots.

Across Butler County, 111 provisional ballots were cast. These ballots are not yet tabulated.

“From my perspective, yesterday’s election went quite smoothly,” county solicitor Wil White said Wednesday. White said he is notified about reports of election law violations and people “acting up” at polling places.

A number of local races were contested in the election. Those included elections for Common Pleas Court judge, Butler mayor, Butler Area School Board, Butler Township commissioner, Franklin Township supervisor, Donegal Township supervisor, Seneca Valley School Board, Mars Area School Board, Mars Borough Council, Seven Fields Borough Council, Middlesex Township supervisors, Cranberry Township supervisors and Lancaster Township supervisors.