LISBON — Early voting is under way in Columbiana County, where voters are deciding a Nov. 3 general election ballot topped by contested state legislative races, an East Palestine police levy and school income tax, and a Salem parks levy renewal — with no countywide levy and no contested county offices on the ballot. Early in-person voting is held at the Board of Elections office, 7989 Dickey Drive, Suite 3, in Lisbon, with hours this week Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., through Oct. 23.
With no countywide money question this fall, the sharpest contests are for the seats representing the county in Columbus. In the 79th Ohio House District, which covers most of the county, Republican Monica Robb Blasdel faces Democrat Bob Guy. In the 33rd Ohio Senate District, Republican Al Cutrona faces Democrat Michael L. Kripchak.
Butler and Knox township voters also decide the 59th House District, where Republican Tex Fischer faces Democrat Wayne Penny Jr., and the 7th District Court of Appeals race for the term beginning Feb. 10, 2027, pits Republican Mark Anthony Hanni against Democrat Katherine Rudzik. The county’s own offices drew no opposition: Republicans Mike Halleck (commissioner), Nancy Gause Milliken (auditor) and Thomas M. Baronzzi (Common Pleas judge, Probate/Juvenile Division) are unopposed, as is Republican Molly K. Johnson for the appeals term beginning Feb. 9, 2027.
East Palestine voters decide a renewal of a 2-mill police levy, estimated to collect $134,786 a year for five years, and two proposed charter amendments. Salem voters decide a renewal of the city’s 1.3-mill parks levy, estimated to collect $235,982 a year for five years. Townships seek five-year road levy renewals in Fairfield (1.6 mills), West (3 mills), Butler (3 mills) and Knox (1.5 mills), and five-year fire levy renewals in Center (0.286 mill) and Middleton (3.22 mills). Additional township levies include Liverpool fire (1.45 mills, continuing), Wayne fire (3 mills, five years) and Perry police (1.5 mills, five years).
Three school questions overlap the county. East Palestine City Schools is asking for an additional 1 percent income tax. West Branch Local Schools seek an additional 1-mill levy for general permanent improvements, estimated to collect $441,471 a year — $35 for each $100,000 of the county auditor’s market value — for five years, commencing in 2026, first due in 2027. Knox Township voters in the Alliance City Schools decide a 2-mill building levy renewal, estimated to collect $317,547 a year for five years.
County voters also help decide the statewide races for governor, attorney general, auditor of state, secretary of state and treasurer of state, two Ohio Supreme Court seats, a U.S. Senate seat, and statewide Issue 3, a proposed constitutional amendment that would enshrine Ohio’s existing photo-ID law in the state constitution. The county sits in Ohio’s 6th Congressional District, the 33rd Ohio Senate District, and the 79th Ohio House District, with Butler and Knox townships in the 59th House District.
Absentee ballot applications are due Tuesday, Oct. 27, by 8:30 p.m. Early voting continues Saturday, Oct. 24, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 25, 1 to 5 p.m., then expands in the final week: Mon., Oct. 26, 7:30 a.m.–7:30 p.m.; Tue., Oct. 27, 7:30 a.m.–8:30 p.m.; Wed.–Fri., Oct. 28–30, 7:30 a.m.–7:30 p.m.; Sat., Oct. 31, 8 a.m.–4 p.m.; and Sun., Nov. 1, 1–5 p.m. Early voting ends Nov. 1, with none on Nov. 2. On Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3, polls are open 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., and voters must present accepted photo identification — an unexpired Ohio driver’s license or state ID, a U.S. passport, or a U.S. military ID.
Photo: 636Buster, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons