Mercer County voters have entered the final week of early in-person voting, with the Mercer County Board of Elections in Celina offering extended hours through Sunday, Nov. 1, ahead of the Tuesday, Nov. 3, general election. Early voting began Oct. 6 under the statewide schedule set by the Ohio Secretary of State, and voters who want to cast a ballot ahead of Election Day can do so at the board office at 101 North Main Street, Room 107, in Celina, according to the Mercer County Board of Elections.
The final week brings the longest early voting days of the season. On Tuesday, Oct. 27, early voting runs from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., according to the Ohio Secretary of State’s 2026 voting schedule. Voting continues Wednesday, Oct. 28, through Friday, Oct. 30, from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. each day, then Saturday, Oct. 31, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday, Nov. 1, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., when early in-person voting ends.
Tuesday is also a key deadline for voters who prefer to vote by mail. Absentee ballot applications must be received by the board of elections by 8:30 p.m. on Oct. 27, according to the Secretary of State’s schedule. Voters who have already received a mail ballot should plan for delivery time, because completed absentee ballots must be received by the board by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 3, to be counted under the state’s rules.
Mercer County voters will decide a full ballot on Nov. 3. In Celina and across the county, the ballot includes county offices including county commissioner and county auditor, along with statewide races for governor, attorney general, auditor of state, secretary of state, treasurer of state and U.S. senator, two Ohio Supreme Court seats, and statewide Issue 3, the proposed constitutional amendment on photo identification for voters. Voters can preview their exact sample ballot through the Ohio Secretary of State’s voter lookup tools before heading to vote,
The board of elections office in Celina is led by Director Kristi Rable, with Mason Landers serving as deputy director, according to the Mercer County Board of Elections. Voters with questions about registration or their polling place can contact the board at (419) 586-2215. Registration for this election closed Oct. 5.
Early voters cast their ballots at the board office in Celina regardless of their home precinct, while Election Day voters go to their assigned precinct polling place, and in-person voters should be prepared to show identification consistent with Ohio law. Polls on Tuesday, Nov. 3, will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., according to the Ohio Secretary of State.
For Mercer County residents still deciding when to vote, election officials’ schedules leave three paths: vote early in Celina during the extended final-week hours, return a requested absentee ballot in time for the Nov. 3 receipt deadline, or vote in person on Election Day. With early voting ending at 5 p.m. Sunday, the remaining weekday evenings and weekend hours in Celina are the last chance to vote ahead of Election Day.
Photo: Nyttend, CC BY-SA




