LONDON — Early in-person voting is under way in Madison County ahead of the Tuesday, Nov. 3 general election, and while no countywide tax question and no contested countywide race appear on this fall’s ballot, voters in London and across the county will decide a stack of fire, ambulance and city levies that together carry millions of dollars a year in local taxes.
The two largest questions come from the county’s emergency services. The Madison County Emergency Medical District is asking for an additional 4.75-mill levy estimated to raise $2,199,290 a year, costing the owner of a $100,000 home about $166.25 a year, for five years beginning in 2027. The Central Townships Joint Fire District is seeking its own additional 4.75-mill levy, also estimated at $2,199,290 a year and about $166 per $100,000 of value, for five years beginning in 2027.
London voters face two city questions. One is a renewal of the city’s 2.1-mill levy for current expenses, estimated to raise $439,585 a year at about $43 per $100,000 of appraised value, for five years beginning in 2027 with collections starting in 2028. The other would authorize a municipal gas aggregation program, placed on the ballot by petition, that would let the city negotiate natural gas supply rates for residents on an opt-out basis.
School and township questions fill out the ballot. Jefferson Local School District voters in the West Jefferson area are deciding an additional 2.55-mill levy for permanent improvements, estimated at $859,370 a year and $89 per $100,000 of market value, for five years beginning in 2026, while West Jefferson village voters also face a series of proposed charter amendments. Range Township voters decide a 1.7-mill fire levy renewal estimated at $45,940 a year, the Sterling Joint Ambulance District seeks renewal of a 1.8-mill levy estimated at $489,825 a year and $36 per $100,000, Darby Township has a zoning plan question, and London’s Ward 4 has a Sunday liquor-sales option for a Main Street carryout.
Every Madison County office on the ballot is unopposed: Republican Tony K. Xenikis for county commissioner, Republican Ashley Cooper for county auditor and Christopher J. Brown for common pleas probate and juvenile judge. The contested choices come in district races. In the 15th Congressional District, Republican Mike Carey faces Democrat Don Leonard and Libertarian Brennan Barrington. State Sen. Michele Reynolds, a Republican, is challenged by Democrat Stacie A. Baker in the 3rd District, Republican state Rep. Brian Stewart faces Democrat Lee Yarsky in the 12th District, and Republicans Robert A. Hendrickson and Matthew Byrne are on the ballot for two 12th District Court of Appeals seats.
Statewide, Madison County voters will help choose Ohio’s next governor between Republicans Vivek Ramaswamy and Robert A. McColley and Democrats Amy Acton and David Pepper, and decide the U.S. Senate race for an unexpired term between Republican Jon Husted and Democrat Sherrod Brown. Also on every Ohio ballot are races for attorney general, auditor, secretary of state and treasurer, two Ohio Supreme Court seats, and State Issue 3, a proposed constitutional amendment that would require voters to present photo identification in order to vote.
Early in-person voting continues at the Madison County Board of Elections, 288 Lafayette St. in London, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays through Oct. 23, then 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24; 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 26; 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 27, which is also the deadline to request an absentee ballot; 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 28 through 30; 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31; and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 1. Absentee ballots must be received by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day, when polls are open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., and in-person voters must show an accepted photo ID.