CIRCLEVILLE, Ohio — Early voting is under way in Pickaway County, and voters who head to the Board of Elections office at 141 W. Main St. in Circleville will find a ballot topped by a countywide park levy and an appeals court race that took an unexpected turn this fall. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3, when polls across the county will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
The top local money question is the Pickaway County Park District levy, a renewal of 0.5 mill combined with an increase of 0.25 mill, for a total rate not exceeding 0.75 mill. The county auditor estimates the levy will collect $1,466,613 annually, which amounts to $20 for each $100,000 of market value, for 10 years commencing in 2027. The money supports parks and recreation in the county, including maintaining existing facilities, expanding and developing new trails and parks, and helping cities, villages and townships improve their own parks and trails.
The most closely watched race on the ballot is for judge of the Fourth District Court of Appeals, a seat left in flux by the death of longtime Judge Peter B. Abele, who had served on the court since 1991 and was running unopposed for another term. Under Ohio law, a Republican district committee selected Pickaway County Prosecutor Jayme Hartley Fountain as the replacement nominee, and she now faces Democrat Todd L. Grace across the 14-county district, which stretches from Pickaway and Ross counties to the Ohio River.
Most Pickaway County offices, by contrast, drew no contest. Republican Jay H. Wippel is the only name on the ballot for county commissioner, and Republican Brad Washburn is unopposed for county auditor. Democrat Shelly R. Harsha is the sole candidate for judge of the Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile and Probate Division, and Democrat Brad Cotton is on the ballot for coroner for an unexpired term, with a write-in option also listed.
Above the county races, voters will decide a full slate of contested district contests. In the 15th Congressional District, Republican incumbent 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, and Republican state Rep. Brian Stewart faces Democrat Lee Yarsky in the 12th House District.
Statewide, Pickaway County voters will help choose the next governor between Republican Vivek Ramaswamy and Democrat Amy Acton, and an unexpired U.S. Senate term between Democrat Sherrod Brown and Republican Jon Husted. Also on every Ohio ballot is State Issue 3, a proposed constitutional amendment that would write Ohio’s photo identification voting requirements into the state constitution, with an exception process for voters with a sincere religious objection to being photographed.
Early in-person voting continues at the Board of Elections on the statewide schedule: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays through Oct. 23, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 24, extended hours the final week, and 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 1. There is no early voting on Monday, Nov. 2. Absentee ballot applications must reach the board by 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 27, and voted mail ballots must be received by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day. Voters should bring an accepted photo ID, such as an Ohio driver’s license, state ID card or U.S. passport.