Voters in Nome, Alaska appear to have defeated a proposed increase on tobacco tax in the city, with the latest results showing 52.7% of the votes going against Proposition 1.

The proposition called for an increase in the sales tax on alcohol and tobacco products sold in the city from five to eight percent, in addition to other existing taxes. KNOM.org reports the latest tally at 270 votes against and 242 in favor.

The final results are expected to be confirmed by the city’s elections department on Thursday.

Nome is located in the northwestern part of the state on Seward Bay and is home to 3,797 residents as of 2012 estimates.

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Patrick Lagreid

I strive to capture the essence of a cigar and the people behind them in my work – every cigar you light up is the culmination of the work of countless people and often represents generations of struggle and stories. For me, it’s about so much more than the cigar – it’s about the story behind it, the experience of enjoying the work of artisans and the way that a good cigar can bring people together. In addition to my work with halfwheel, I’m the public address announcer for the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks during spring training, as well as for the Salt River Rafters of the Arizona Fall League, the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury and previously the Arizona Rattlers of the Indoor Football League. I also work in a number of roles for MLB.com, plus I'm a voice over artist. Prior to joining halfwheel, I covered the Phoenix and national cigar scene for Examiner.com, and was an editor for Cigar Snob magazine.