VAN WERT — Early in-person voting is under way at the Van Wert County Board of Elections, 1362 E. Ervin Road in Van Wert, and voters heading to the Tuesday, Nov. 3 general election will find a ballot topped by statewide races, because every county office on this year’s ballot is unopposed.
Republican Thad Lichtensteiger is the only candidate for county commissioner for the full term beginning Jan. 1, 2027. Republican Arica L. Wermer is unopposed for county auditor, Republican Dillon W. Staas IV is unopposed for prosecuting attorney for an unexpired term ending Dec. 31, 2028, and Eva J. Yarger is the only candidate for judge of the Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile/Probate Division, for a term beginning Feb. 9, 2027.
No countywide levy appears on the November ballot in Van Wert County. The only issue before all county voters is statewide Issue 3, a proposed constitutional amendment that would require voters to present photo identification in order to vote.
The county’s most competitive races sit higher on the ballot. In the 82nd Ohio House District, Republican Roy W. Klopfenstein faces Democrat Maddux McCray and Libertarian Christopher Elder. In the 4th Congressional District, Republican U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan faces Democrat Joshua D. Kolasinski and Libertarian Tracey L. Tackett, and Republican Craig S. Riedel is the only candidate listed for the 1st District state Senate seat. Mark C. Miller is unopposed for judge of the 3rd District Court of Appeals.
Statewide, Ohio voters will choose a governor — Republican Vivek Ramaswamy, Democrat Amy Acton or Libertarian Don Kissick — and decide a U.S. Senate race between Republican Jon Husted, Democrat Sherrod Brown and Libertarian William B. Redpath. Also on the ballot are attorney general (Keith Faber vs. John J. Kulewicz), auditor of state (Frank LaRose vs. Annette Blackwell), secretary of state (Robert Sprague vs. Allison Russo), treasurer of state (Jay Edwards vs. Seth Walsh) and two Ohio Supreme Court seats.
Early in-person voting continues at the board of elections office from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays through Oct. 23, then expands: Saturday, Oct. 24 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Monday, Oct. 26 from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; Tuesday, Oct. 27 from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.; Oct. 28–30 from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 31 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Sunday, Nov. 1 from 1 to 5 p.m.
Absentee ballot applications are due by 8:30 p.m. on Oct. 27, and voted absentee ballots must be received by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day. Voters must show photo identification, and polls will be open Tuesday, Nov. 3 from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.