Delaware County, Ohio — 2026 Election & Ballot Guide

Delaware County is part of NewsForce247’s Central Ohio coverage region, with the city of Delaware as its county seat.

This page is Delaware County’s complete guide to the Tuesday, November 3, 2026 general election: everything on the county’s ballots, where and when to vote, and — after polls close on election night — the results, race by race, as the Delaware County Board of Elections and the Ohio Secretary of State report them.

Every race, candidate, and issue below comes from the Delaware County Board of Elections’ official records and Ohio Secretary of State publications. Depending on where you live in the county, your ballot will include the county-wide items plus your school district, township, and village or city items.

On Your Ballot — Delaware County Offices

2 county offices are on the 2026 ballot. 1 of them is contested.

• County Commissioner (Full term commencing 1-1-2027) — Contested: Ryan Grissinger (Democratic) vs. Reneé Vaughan (Republican)
• County Auditor: George Kaitsa (Republican) — unopposed

On Your Ballot — Judgeships

• Judge of the Court of Appeals (5th District) (Full term commencing 2-9-2027): Matthew George (Republican) — unopposed
• Judge of the Court of Common Pleas (General Division) (Full term commencing 2-9-2027): Marianne T. Hemmeter — unopposed
• Judge of the Court of Common Pleas (General Division) (Unexpired term ending 12-31-2030) — Contested: Nickolas K. McCoy vs. Emma Mirles-Jones
• Judge of the Court of Common Pleas (Probate/Juvenile Division) (Full term commencing 2-9-2027): David Hejmanowski — unopposed

On Your Ballot — Congress and the Statehouse

• Representative to Congress (4th District) — Contested: Jim Jordan (Republican) vs. Joshua D. Kolasinski (Democratic) vs. Tracey L. Tackett (part of Delaware County ballots (102 of 258 ballot styles))
• Representative to Congress (12th District) — Contested: Troy Balderson (Republican) vs. Jerrad Christian (Democratic) (part of Delaware County ballots (156 of 258 ballot styles))
• State Senator (19th District) — Contested: Scott Charland (Democratic) vs. Ryan Rivers (Republican) (all Delaware County ballots)
• State Representative (60th District) — Contested: Shelby Kimball (Democratic) vs. Brian Lorenz (Republican) (part of Delaware County ballots (118 of 258 ballot styles))
• State Representative (61st District) — Contested: Vince McGrail (Democratic) vs. Shawn Stevens (Republican) (part of Delaware County ballots (140 of 258 ballot styles))

On Your Ballot — Issues and Levies

County-wide issues (every Delaware County ballot)

• Developmental disabilities additional levy — 1.8 mills, 5 years. An additional tax for the benefit of Delaware County for the purpose of community developmental disabilities programs and services pursuant to Chapter 5126. of the Revised Code (levies subject to section 5705.222 of the Revised Code). The county auditor estimates it will collect $25,448,490 annually at a rate not exceeding 1.8 mills for each $1 of taxable value, which amounts to $63 for each $100,000 of the county auditor’s market value. The levy runs 5 years, commencing in 2026, first due in calendar year 2027. It appears on every Delaware County ballot.
• Mental health board renewal and increase — 2 mills total, 5 years. A renewal of 1.5 mills and an increase of 0.5 mill for each $1 of taxable value, for the benefit of the Delaware-Morrow Mental Health & Recovery Services Board (Delaware and Morrow Counties) for the purpose of current expenses. The county auditor estimates it will collect $23,005,505 annually at a rate not exceeding 2 mills for each $1 of taxable value, which amounts to $50 for each $100,000 of the county auditor’s market value. The levy runs 5 years, commencing in 2027, first due in calendar year 2028. It appears on every Delaware County ballot.
• Transit sales and use tax — 0.2%, continuing. Shall a sales and use tax be levied by the Delaware County Regional Transit Authority for the purpose of providing additional general revenues for a transit authority, funding a regional transportation improvement project under section 5595.06 of the Revised Code, or funding public infrastructure projects as described in section 306.353 of the Revised Code, and to pay the expenses of administering such levy, at a rate not exceeding 0.2 per cent for a continuing period of time? The issue appears on 225 of the county’s 258 ballot styles.

School district issues (only on ballots in that district)

• Career Center renewal and decrease — 0.75 mill combined, 10 years. A renewal of part of an existing levy, being a reduction of 0.95 mill for each $1 of taxable value, for the benefit of the Delaware Area Career Center (Delaware, Franklin, Marion, Morrow, and Union Counties): a rate not exceeding 0.40 mill for the purpose of improving, renovating, remodeling, enlarging, furnishing and equipping school buildings and facilities, and a rate not exceeding 0.35 mill for the purpose of current expenses. The county auditor estimates it will collect $5,773,576 annually at a combined rate not exceeding 0.75 mill for each $1 of taxable value, which amounts to $18 for each $100,000 of the county auditor’s market value. The levy runs 10 years, commencing in 2026, first due in calendar year 2027. It appears on 210 of the county’s 258 ballot styles.
• Elgin renewal — fixed sum $850,000 a year, 5 years. A fixed-sum levy renewing an existing levy, imposed by the Elgin Local School District (Marion, Delaware, Hardin Counties) for the purpose of paying current expenses of the district in the sum of $850,000. The county auditor estimates the levy will average 2.88 mills for each $1 of taxable value, which amounts to $101 for each $100,000 of the county auditor’s market value. The levy runs five years, commencing in 2027, first due in calendar year 2028. The county auditor certified the district’s carry-over balance measure is $0, which is 0% of the preceding fiscal year’s general fund expenditures. Only one Delaware County ballot style (the district’s small Delaware County portion) carries this issue.

City and village issues

• Columbus charter amendment (by petition) — council district elections. Proposed charter amendment, by petition, for the City of Columbus (Delaware, Fairfield and Franklin Counties), appearing on ballots in the Columbus portion of Delaware County. The amendment would limit the ability to vote for candidates for Columbus City Council to only those electors living within the districts that those candidates seek to represent; ballots within council districts will include both citywide races and the district race; and a recall election of a council district representative may be initiated by a petition bearing the signatures of electors of the district in an amount at least fifteen (15%) percent of the votes cast within the district in the preceding mayoral election.
• Columbus charter amendment — district and at-large elections, other reforms. Proposed charter amendment for the City of Columbus (Delaware, Fairfield and Franklin Counties), the complement to the district-elections amendment, appearing on ballots in the Columbus portion of Delaware County. Per the official ballot text, the amendment would: add two at-large council representatives elected in 2027 (seated 2028) and two more elected in 2029 (seated 2030), transitioning Council from nine members to eleven and then thirteen with staggered four-year terms; require a redraw of the council district map in 2027 and raise the maximum population variance between districts from 1% to 7.5%; require district candidates to have resided in their district at least one year before the primary and to collect at least 150 signatures from within their district (250 citywide for at-large candidates); update expulsion/removal vote thresholds to 2/3rds, quorum and ordinance-adoption vote counts; and allow recall elections for district and at-large representatives on petitions of at least fifteen (15%) percent of the votes cast in the preceding mayoral election.
• Sunbury charter amendment — data center construction prohibited. The proposed amendment would amend the Charter of the City of Sunbury to add Section 11.05 to Article XI, ‘Prohibition of Construction of a Data Center’: the construction of a data center is prohibited. ‘Construction’ means the erection of one or more buildings, infrastructure, facilities, and related activities, including preparations and modifications, for a common purpose. ‘Data center’ means one or more buildings or physical facilities on a single parcel or contiguous, adjacent, or otherwise aggregated parcels, used primarily or exclusively for digital information services (management, storage, processing, and dissemination of electronic data through computer systems, servers, networking equipment and related components, including cooling systems), with an aggregate monthly demand or peak load greater than twenty-five (25) megawatts. The section is self-executing.
• Galena additional levy — 2 mills, 4 years (current expenses). An additional tax for the benefit of the Village of Galena for the purpose of current expenses. The county auditor estimates it will collect $192,942 annually at a rate not exceeding 2 mills for each $1 of taxable value, which amounts to $70 for each $100,000 of the county auditor’s market value. The levy runs 4 years, commencing in 2026, first due in calendar year 2027.
• Sunbury liquor option — Sticks Table & Tap (A-1-A). Local liquor option for a particular location, by petition, in the Sunbury City A precinct: shall the sale of spirituous liquor be permitted by JPN Restaurants, L.L.C., dba Sticks Table & Tap, an applicant for an A-1-A liquor permit, who is engaged in the business of operating a brewery/restaurant at 571 W. Cherry Street, Sunbury, Ohio 43074 in this precinct?
• Sunbury liquor option (Sunday sales) — Sticks Table & Tap (D-6). Local liquor option for a particular location, by petition (Sunday sales), in the Sunbury City A precinct: shall the sale of wine and mixed beverages, and spirituous liquor be permitted for sale on Sunday by JPN Restaurants, L.L.C., dba Sticks Table & Tap, an applicant for a D-6 liquor permit who is engaged in the business of operating a brewery/restaurant at 571 W. Cherry Street, Sunbury, Ohio 43074 in this precinct?
• Delaware City liquor option (Sunday sales) — Hacienda Taqueria & Bar (D-6). Local liquor option for a particular location, by petition (Sunday sales), in the Delaware City 4-B precinct: shall the sale of wine and mixed beverages, and spirituous liquor be permitted for sale on Sunday by Hot Spot Delaware, L.L.C., dba Hacienda Taqueria & Bar, an applicant for a D-6 liquor permit who is engaged in the business of operating a restaurant/bar at 26 N. Sandusky Street, Delaware, Ohio 43015 in this precinct?
• Delaware City liquor option (Sunday sales) — Restoration Brew Worx (D-6). Local liquor option for a particular location, by petition (Sunday sales), in the Delaware City 4-B precinct: shall the sale of wine and mixed beverages & spirituous liquor be permitted for sale on Sunday by Four Fat Bs LLC (DBA Restoration Brew Worx), an applicant for a D-6 liquor permit who is engaged in the business of operating a restaurant, craft-brewery & taproom at 25 N. Sandusky St, Delaware, OH 43015 in this precinct?
• Delaware City liquor option (Sunday sales) — Rosebud’s (D-6). Local liquor option for a particular location, by petition (Sunday sales), in the Delaware City 4-B precinct: shall the sale of wine and mixed beverages, and spirituous liquor be permitted for sale on Sunday by FHDR, L.L.C., dba Rosebud’s, an applicant for a D-6 liquor permit who is engaged in the business of operating a restaurant at 3 W. Winter Street, Delaware, Ohio 43015 in this precinct?
• Delaware City liquor option (Sunday sales) — Yokai Ramen Bistro (D-6). Local liquor option for a particular location, by petition (Sunday sales), in the Delaware City 4-B precinct: shall the sale of wine and mixed beverages, and spirituous liquor be permitted for sale on Sunday by Tony’s Italian Bistro, L.L.C., dba Yokai Ramen Bistro, an applicant for a D-6 liquor permit who is engaged in the business of operating a restaurant at 48 N. Sandusky Street, Delaware, Ohio 43015 in this precinct?
• Columbus liquor option (Sunday sales) — Born on Third (D-6). Local liquor option for a particular location, by petition (Sunday sales), in the Columbus City E precinct: shall the sale of beer and wine and mixed beverages be permitted for sale on Sunday by Born on Third Limited Partnership, an applicant for a D-6 liquor permit who is engaged in the business of operating a restaurant at 40 Lazelle Rd, Columbus, OH 43035 in this precinct?

Township and fire district issues

• Fire district renewal and increase — 7.35 mills total, 5 years. A renewal of 4.85 mills and an increase of 2.5 mills for each $1 of taxable value, for the benefit of the B.S.T. & G. Joint Fire District for the purpose of providing and maintaining fire apparatus, appliances, buildings, or sources of water supply and materials therefor, the establishment and maintenance of lines of fire alarm telegraph, or the payment of permanent, part-time, or volunteer firefighters or firefighting companies. The county auditor estimates it will collect $6,071,628 annually at a rate not exceeding 7.35 mills for each $1 of taxable value, which amounts to $176 for each $100,000 of the county auditor’s market value. The levy runs 5 years, commencing in 2026, first due in calendar year 2027.
• Orange Township roads additional — 1 mill, 5 years. An additional tax for the benefit of Orange Township for the purpose of the general construction, reconstruction, resurfacing, and repair of streets, roads, and bridges. The county auditor estimates it will collect $2,279,352 annually at a rate not exceeding 1 mill for each $1 of taxable value, which amounts to $35 for each $100,000 of the county auditor’s market value. The levy runs 5 years, commencing in 2027, first due in calendar year 2028.
• Orange Township parks renewal — 1 mill, 5 years. A renewal of a tax for the benefit of Orange Township for the purpose of parks and recreational purposes. The county auditor estimates it will collect $1,372,814 annually at a rate not exceeding 1 mill for each $1 of taxable value, which amounts to $20 for each $100,000 of the county auditor’s market value. The levy runs 5 years, commencing in 2027, first due in calendar year 2028.
• Berlin Township fire renewal — 2.95 mills, 5 years. A renewal of a tax for the benefit of Berlin Township for the purpose of providing and maintaining fire apparatus, mechanical resuscitators, underwater rescue and recovery equipment, or other fire equipment and appliances, buildings and sites therefor, sources of water supply, fire-alarm communications lines, the payment of firefighting, emergency medical service, administrative or communications personnel (including employer contributions under sections 145.48 or 742.34 of the Revised Code), the purchase of ambulance equipment, and the provision of ambulance, paramedic, or other emergency medical services. The county auditor estimates it will collect $1,409,427 annually at a rate not exceeding 2.95 mills for each $1 of taxable value, which amounts to $103 for each $100,000 of the county auditor’s market value. The levy runs 5 years, commencing in 2027, first due in calendar year 2028.
• Harlem Township fire renewal — 4 mills, 4 years. A renewal of a tax for the benefit of Harlem Township for the purpose of providing and maintaining fire apparatus, appliances, buildings, or sites therefor, sources of water supply and materials, fire alarm telegraph lines, the payment of permanent, part-time, or volunteer firefighters or firefighting companies (including the firefighter employers’ contribution under section 742.34 of the Ohio Revised Code), the purchase of ambulance equipment, or the provision of ambulance, paramedic, or other emergency medical services. The county auditor estimates it will collect $956,658 annually at a rate not exceeding 4 mills for each $1 of taxable value, which amounts to $97 for each $100,000 of the county auditor’s market value. The levy runs 4 years, commencing in 2026, first due in calendar year 2027.
• Concord Township roads renewal — 1 mill, 5 years. A renewal of a tax for the benefit of Concord Township for the purpose of general construction, reconstruction, resurfacing, and repair of roads and bridges. The county auditor estimates it will collect $325,427 annually at a rate not exceeding 1 mill for each $1 of taxable value, which amounts to $11 for each $100,000 of the county auditor’s market value. The levy runs 5 years, commencing in 2027, first due in calendar year 2028.
• Oxford Township roads renewal — 1.2 mills, 5 years. A renewal of a tax for the benefit of Oxford Township for the purpose of the general construction, reconstruction, resurfacing, and repair of roads and bridges. The county auditor estimates it will collect $44,807 annually at a rate not exceeding 1.2 mills for each $1 of taxable value, which amounts to $30 for each $100,000 of the county auditor’s market value. The levy runs 5 years, commencing in 2026, first due in calendar year 2027.
• Scioto Township liquor option — Ostrander Brewing Company (A-1A). Local liquor option for a particular location, by petition, in the Scioto B precinct: shall the sale of beer, wine and mixed beverages, and spirituous liquor be permitted by Ostrander Brewing Company, L.L.C., an applicant for an A-1A liquor permit, who is engaged in the business of operating a brewery/community gathering venue at 3794 Ostrander Road, Ostrander (Scioto Township), Ohio 43061 in this precinct?
• Scioto Township liquor option (Sunday sales) — Ostrander Brewing Company (D-6). Local liquor option for a particular location, by petition (Sunday sales), in the Scioto B precinct: shall the sale of wine and mixed beverages, and spirituous liquor be permitted for sale on Sunday by Ostrander Brewing Company, L.L.C., an applicant for a D-6 liquor permit who is engaged in the business of operating a brewery/community gathering venue at 3794 Ostrander Road, Ostrander (Scioto Township), Ohio 43061 in this precinct?
• Orange Township liquor option (Sunday sales) — Chateau Wine & Spirits (D6). Local liquor option for a particular location, by petition (Sunday sales), in the Orange A precinct: shall the sale of wine and mixed beverages be permitted for sale on Sunday by Orange Point 117 LLC, doing business as Chateau Wine & Spirits, an applicant for a D6 liquor permit who is engaged in the business of operating a specialty wine shoppe and liquor agency store at the Southeast Corner of US 23 and Gooding Blvd./Orangepoint Drive (Parcel #318-234-04-006-008), Orange Twp., Lewis Center, OH 43035 in this precinct?
• Orange Township liquor option — The Skybox Sports Bar (D5). Local liquor option for a particular location, by petition, in the Orange U precinct: shall the sale of wine and mixed beverages be permitted by Skybox Sports Bar Inc., known as The Skybox Sports Bar, an applicant for a D5 liquor permit, who is engaged in the business of operating a family friendly, full-service neighborhood sports bar at 1317 Cameron Ave., Orange Twp., Lewis Center, OH 43035 in this precinct?
• Orange Township liquor option (Sunday sales) — The Skybox Sports Bar (D6). Local liquor option for a particular location, by petition (Sunday sales), in the Orange U precinct: shall the sale of wine and mixed beverages & spirituous liquor be permitted for sale on Sunday by Skybox Sports Bar Inc., known as The Skybox Sports Bar, an applicant for a D6 liquor permit who is engaged in the business of operating a family friendly, full-service neighborhood sports bar at 1317 Cameron Ave., Orange Twp., Lewis Center, OH 43035 in this precinct?

Verified against the official 2026 ballots: Delaware County itself has no other county levy beyond the countywide DD additional levy and the Mental Health & Recovery Services Board renewal-and-increase listed above; the City of Delaware, City of Powell, Village of Ashley, Village of Ostrander and Village of Shawnee Hills have no municipal levy or charter issue of their own (Delaware City and Columbus precincts carry only the precinct liquor options and Columbus charter amendments listed). No Delaware County school district headquartered in the county (Delaware City, Olentangy, Big Walnut, Buckeye Valley) has a 2026 levy on any ballot; the only school issues touching the county are the Delaware Area Career Center and Elgin Local levies. Townships other than Orange, Berlin, Harlem, Concord, Oxford and the B.S.T. & G. Joint Fire District area have no 2026 levy.

Statewide — On Every Ohio Ballot

• Governor and Lieutenant Governor — Vivek Ramaswamy and Robert A. McColley (Republican); Amy Acton and David Pepper (Democratic); Don Kissick and James L. Mills (Libertarian)
• Attorney General — Keith Faber (Republican) vs. John J. Kulewicz (Democratic)
• Auditor of State — Frank LaRose (Republican) vs. Annette Blackwell (Democratic)
• Secretary of State — Robert Sprague (Republican) vs. Allison Russo (Democratic) vs. Tom Pruss (Libertarian)
• Treasurer of State — Jay Edwards (Republican) vs. Seth Walsh (Democratic)
• U.S. Senator (unexpired term ending January 3, 2029) — Jon Husted (Republican) vs. Sherrod Brown (Democratic) vs. William B. Redpath (Libertarian) vs. Greg Levy
• The two Ohio Supreme Court races — Daniel R. Hawkins (Republican) vs. Marilyn Zayas (Democratic) for the term beginning January 1, 2027, and Jennifer Brunner (Democratic) vs. Colleen O’Donnell (Republican) for the term beginning January 2, 2027 — appear under Judgeships on ballots where that section is listed, and in the results table below.
• State Issue 3 — proposed constitutional amendment (placed on the ballot by the General Assembly): would require voters to present photo identification in order to vote. Approved photo ID would be an unexpired Ohio driver license or state identification card, a U.S. passport or passport card, or a U.S. military, Ohio National Guard, or U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs identification card. A majority YES vote is required for adoption.

Full statewide coverage: Election HQ.

How to Vote in Delaware County

Early in-person voting is at the Delaware County Board of Elections, 2079 US Highway 23 N, Delaware, OH 43015. Final-week hours:

• Monday, October 26: 7:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, October 27: 7:30 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, October 28 – Friday, October 30: 7:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.
• Saturday, October 31: 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
• Sunday, November 1: 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. (the last day of early in-person voting)

Absentee ballots: applications must be received by the Board of Elections by Tuesday, October 27, 2026, at 8:30 p.m. Voted absentee ballots must be received by the board by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day — there is no postmark grace period for regular absentee ballots, so mail yours early enough to arrive, return it in person, or use the board’s secure drop box where one is provided. Military and overseas (UOCAVA) ballots must be received by Saturday, November 7.

Election Day: Tuesday, November 3, 2026 — polls are open 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. If you are in line by 7:30 p.m., you may vote.

Find your polling place and see your own sample ballot: Delaware County Board of Elections (the board’s official site, as listed in the Ohio Secretary of State’s directory of county boards of elections).

Delaware County Results — Election Night

Results will be posted here on election night, after polls close at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, November 3 — from the Delaware County Board of Elections and the Ohio Secretary of State’s official reporting, as they are published. NewsForce247 reports the figures; we do not call races.

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More for Delaware County

• School Closings & Delays HQ
• Election HQ
• Central Ohio News
• The 88 Hub — all 88 Ohio counties

Ballot information on this page comes from the Delaware County Board of Elections’ official records and Ohio Secretary of State publications, researched October 2026. Candidate party labels are shown exactly as printed on the official ballot. After Election Day, this page becomes Delaware County’s standing news page, with the 2026 ballot and results kept as the record.