A new face will join the ranks of the Buckingham County School Board in January, and an old one could return to Cumberland’s.

The decisions came Tuesday night as droves of voters across Buckingham, Cumberland and Prince Edward counties took to the polls to choose their next United States president — electing Republican Donald J. Trump over Democratic opponent Hillary R. Clinton.

In Buckingham County, Joii West Goodman won a majority of votes in a special election for the District Four School Board seat. Only 16 votes separated Goodman, who received 588 votes, from candidate Frank Knott’s 572 votes.

The special election came after school board member Russell “Pete” Gowin died after being re-elected last November, leaving the seat vacant. The school board appointed Knott to serve in an interim capacity through January.

“It feels great,” Goodman said. “I actually feel validation from everything that happened earlier last year … I was heard and the people stood up, and I’m just glad the people came to the polls.”

Goodman, who unsuccessfully ran against Gowin for the seat last November, losing by 40 votes, gave thanks to God and Jesus Christ.

“They all gave me motivation and gave me fuel,” he said of both his supporters and opponents. “So, I’m elated and I’m happy. It’s a new day,” he said. “I’m going to be a representative of everyone.”

In Cumberland, George Reid Jr., who retired recently after more than 20 years of service on the school board — many of which he served as chairman — received a majority of write-in votes for the District Four School Board seat. Reid received 16 votes, according to Cumberland County General Registrar Marlene Watson. A total of 95 write-in votes were cast; no names appeared on the ballot.

“I was totally surprised when I heard that last night,” Reid said. “I haven’t really thought about it too much.”

Reid said he wasn’t sure if he’d accept the position. “I’m going to sit down and … discuss it with the family and go from there.”

The special election came after former District Four School Board Member Cynthia Morgan resigned, leaving the unexpired term vacant. Reid was then appointed to serve in an interim capacity.

In the race for the 5th U.S. Congressional District seat, state Sen. Tom Garrett, a Republican, won Buckingham, Cumberland and Prince Edward counties. Shortly after 9 p.m. Tuesday, Democratic opponent and former member of the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors Jane Dittmar conceded victory to Garrett.

With 99.4 percent of the precincts reporting in the 5th District, Garrett had received 58 percent of the votes to Dittmar’s 42.

“First and foremost, I want to thank God and my family for their steadfast support,” said Garrett, who currently represents Virginia’s 22nd Senate District. “Similarly, I could not be more appreciative for the outpouring of support by volunteers, donors and GOP units who have given so much during this election — it is truly humbling.”

His win means a special election will need to be held to fill the unexpired term of his seat in the state Senate.

The selection of direct election over the current appointment process of school board members in Prince Edward came on a landslide. Seventy-six percent of voters voted “yes” on the measure, while only 24 percent voted “no.” The referendum asked voters, “Shall the method of selecting the school board be changed from appointment by the governing body to direct election by the voters?”

“Yes” votes won the majority of votes in every precinct in the county.

Currently, members of the county’s board of supervisors select school board members.

In Buckingham, Republican Donald J. Trump took 54 percent of the vote to Democrat Hillary Clinton’s 43 percent. In Cumberland, Trump took 55 percent of the votes cast, while Clinton took 42 percent.

Clinton won Prince Edward with 50 percent of the vote to Trump’s 45 percent.

Turnout was high in all three counties: 71 percent in Buckingham, 66 percent in Cumberland and 68 percent in Prince Edward. The percentages are based on registered voters in the locality.

Regarding two proposed amendments to the Virginia Constitution, voters in all three counties rejected a right-to-work question, while voters overwhelmingly embraced a property tax exemption for the spouses of emergency workers who die in line of duty. Cumberland had one outstanding precinct yet to report on both constitutional referendums as of Thursday morning.

All results are unofficial until certified by the Virginia Board of Elections.