(KMZA)--Marshall County voters in a special election Tuesday rejected a funding proposal for a new jail.

According to the unofficial results from the Marshall County Clerk's Office, 718 votes were cast against the proposal or 64 percent, with 396 votes in favor or 36 percent.

The County Clerk's Office reported only about a 16 percent voter turnout.

Voters were deciding whether the county should enter into a lease-purchase agreement not to exceed $6.5 million to finance a portion of the proposed new jail. The total estimated cost was placed at $12 million.

The decision to hold the election came after a valid protest petition was filed in October objecting to the county's lease-purchase plan.