The Summit County Board of Elections agrees on one thing about voting precincts:  There should be fewer.

They do not agree on when that reduction should take place.

Republican members of the board want it to happen between the primary and general elections. 

"If we're going to have savings, the number one place to have savings is to cut precincts," said Republican Alex Arshinkoff.

Democrats want it to happen after the general election.

"I don't think the money that we can save in one election this year is worth disrupting where everybody votes on election day in November," said Democrat and Board Chairman Tim Gorbach.

The board has been pressured by the county to spend less money. 

Arshinkoff explained that fewer precincts means paying less rental or other facility fees, paying fewer people, using less equipment, etc.

It resulted in a tie vote that will be decided by the secretary of state. 

The board also issued to two tie votes on another cost-cutting matter.  Republicans want to eliminate the twelve District Pollworker Coordinators.  They work on election days, plus mandatory training and make $4,000 per year and receive county medical benefits. 

Democrats want to keep the positions and pay, but eliminate health benefits, saying the coordinators work as troubleshooters on election days.