ST. CLAIRSVILLE — Early voting is under way in Belmont County, where the Nov. 3 ballot is topped locally by two countywide levy renewals — one for the county 911 emergency radio system and one for senior services — and a contested race for county commissioner. The Board of Elections, at 52180 National Road in St. Clairsville, is open for early voting from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday this week.
The first countywide question would renew the tax funding the Belmont County 911 emergency radio system used by police, fire, EMS and the emergency management agency. It would collect about $1,675,000 a year at a rate not exceeding 0.75 mill — about $22 for each $100,000 of the county auditor’s market value — for five years, commencing in 2027 and first due in 2028, paying for radio replacements and upgrades, dispatch consoles, next-generation 911 equipment, maintenance and operations, excluding salaries.
The second question is a renewal and decrease for senior services: renewal of part of an existing levy, a reduction of 0.75 mill, at a rate not exceeding 0.75 mill — about $15 for each $100,000 of market value — collecting about $1,410,000 a year for five years, commencing in 2027 and first due in 2028, for senior services and facilities including transportation, nutrition and in-home services. As renewals, neither measure would raise the rate owners already pay.
The most contested county race is for commissioner, for a term beginning Jan. 1, 2027: Democrat Franklin Cecil Shaffer Jr. faces Republican Dominic DeFelice. Republican Josh Meyer is the only candidate listed for county auditor, and the judgeships are unopposed on the sample ballot: Kevin Flanagan and Chris Berhalter for common pleas, and Albert E. Davies for probate division.
Voters will also decide a contested Seventh District Court of Appeals race between Democrat Katherine Rudzik and Republican Mark Anthony Hanni; Republican Molly K. Johnson is unopposed for the district’s other seat. Republican Ron Ferguson faces Democrat Charrie L. Foglio for state representative in the 96th District, and Republican Michael A. Rulli faces Democrat Elizabeth Kirtley for Congress in the 6th District. Depending on precinct, local questions include a proposed 0.75 percent income tax for Martins Ferry City Schools for current expenses, for five years beginning Jan. 1, 2027, and library renewal levies in St. Clairsville and Barnesville.
Above the local races, voters will help decide Ohio’s statewide contests — governor, U.S. senator, attorney general, auditor, secretary of state, treasurer and two Supreme Court seats — plus Issue 3, the proposed amendment requiring photo identification to vote. Republican Vivek Ramaswamy faces Democrat Amy Acton and Libertarian Don Kissick for governor; Republican Jon Husted faces Democrat Sherrod Brown and Libertarian William B. Redpath for U.S. Senate.
Early hours expand in the final stretch: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 19–23; 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24; 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 26; 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Oct. 27; 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 28–30; 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 31; and 1 to 5 p.m. Nov. 1. Absentee ballots must reach the board by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day, when polls are open 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. The board is at 740-526-0188.