The polls closed at 7:30 Tuesday evening and when the last of the voters left the Lawrence County Courthouse, the hopeful, the watchful and the curious took their place as election officials began counting those ballots.

For some candidates or family members or supporters of various causes, there is only one place to be on election night and that is the courthouse, a ground zero, if you will, for ballot counting.

Darlene Green, Edna McClain and Margaret Pennington waited for news about the senior citizens levy. Would voters turn thumbs up or down?

“I feel pretty confident,” Pennington said.

McClain wasn’t so sure.

“All those ads about Issue 2, I’m afraid people are going to say no clear across the board,” she said.

Julie Walter waited for news about Ironton’s mayoral race. If she was maybe a bit nervous, who could blame her? It was her brother, Rich Blankenship, seeking his second term as the city’s chief executive officer.

“We’re ready for it to be done with,” she said.

Officeholders circulated too, even those who weren’t facing the electorate this year. Election night is, at least for those who aren’t running for office, an occasion to socialize.

“I’ve got some food upstairs,” Lawrence County Engineer Doug Cade said, gesturing toward his office on the second floor.

Candidates floated in and out, eager for results on their races.

“Is there anything yet from Symmes?” township trustee and candidate Cecil Mays wanted to know. He came early and would have to wait another hour or two before he got the news that he had gotten the nod from voters.