SPRINGFIELD — Early voting is under way in Clark County, where voters are deciding a Nov. 3 ballot topped by a health district levy renewal, two commissioner races and a Springfield gas aggregation question. Early voting is at the Board of Elections office, 3130 E. Main St. in Springfield, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays this week, through Oct. 23.
The top countywide money question is a Clark County Combined Health District renewal levy, on ballots outside New Carlisle. The 1-mill renewal would collect an estimated $2,663,976 a year, costing $35 per $100,000 of appraised value, for five years, commencing in 2027, first due in 2028.
Two commissioner seats are contested. For a full term beginning Jan. 1, 2027, incumbent Republican Sasha Rittenhouse faces Democrat Bradley Soles. For an unexpired term ending Jan. 1, 2029, Republican Greg R. Kaffenbarger faces Seth Evans, listed on the ballot with no party designation.
Republican Auditor Hillary Hamilton and Republican Recorder Bonnie Sakaitis are unopposed, Sakaitis for an unexpired term ending Dec. 31, 2028. The coroner’s unexpired term, also ending Dec. 31, 2028, pits Republican Joel Macy against Democrat Aamir Khan. Unopposed judicial races: Chris Epley, Court of Appeals, 2nd District, and Richard P. Carey, Probate Court.
Springfield voters decide Ordinance 26-203, which would let the city aggregate natural gas loads and negotiate supply, with an opt-out for residents. New Carlisle voters consider a 0.5% income tax for fire and emergency medical services. Townships add a 0.5-mill police levy in Springfield Township, fire and police renewals in Bethel Township, and a 1.5-mill ambulance levy in Green Township.
Clark-Shawnee Local asks for a 0.5% earned income tax for five years, beginning Jan. 1, 2027, for current expenses. Tecumseh Local asks to renew a fixed-sum levy raising $712,000, for five years. Northwestern Local has two five-year renewals: a 1-mill permanent improvements levy collecting an estimated $225,394 a year, and a fixed-sum operating levy raising $1,756,160.
Voters also help decide races for governor, attorney general, auditor of state, secretary of state, treasurer of state, two Ohio Supreme Court seats, a U.S. Senate seat, and statewide Issue 3, which would enshrine Ohio’s photo-ID law in the state constitution. The county is split between the 4th and 15th Congressional Districts, and between the 74th Ohio House District — Bernard Willis against Darrell E. Jackson — and the 71st — Levi Dean against Krista Magaw. All of the county lies in the 10th Ohio Senate District, with no Senate race in 2026.
Absentee applications are due by 8:30 p.m. Oct. 27. Early voting expands in the final week — 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 26 and Oct. 28–30, until 8:30 p.m. Oct. 27, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 31, and 1 to 5 p.m. Nov. 1, when it ends; there is none Nov. 2. On Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3, polls are open 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Voters must show an unexpired Ohio driver’s license or state ID, a U.S. passport, or a U.S. military ID.