LORAIN, Ohio — Early in-person voting is under way in Lorain County, where voters are deciding three countywide levy questions — for children services, developmental disabilities and the county health district — along with contested races for county commissioner and county auditor ahead of the Tuesday, Nov. 3 general election. Early voting is at the Lorain County Board of Elections, 1985 North Ridge Road East in Lorain.
Issue 12 is an additional 0.45-mill levy for Lorain County Children Services, for the support of children services, the care and placement of abused, neglected and dependent children, and the Bureau for Children with Medical Handicaps. The county auditor estimates it will collect $5,405,086 annually, amounting to $16 for each $100,000 of the county auditor’s market value, for five years commencing in 2026. Issue 11 is an additional 0.85-mill levy for Lorain County Developmental Disabilities, funding Murray Ridge Center’s school, early intervention, vocational training, adult day centers, community employment and residential supports; the auditor estimates $10,054,246 annually, amounting to $30 for each $100,000 of market value, for five years.
The third countywide question, Issue 7, is a renewal of the 0.5-mill levy for operating expenses of the Lorain County General Health District. The auditor estimates the renewal will collect $3,785,431 annually, amounting to $11 for each $100,000 of market value, for five years commencing in 2027. As a renewal, it continues an existing tax rather than creating a new one.
The most contested county race is for county commissioner, where Democrat Carolyn Y. White faces Republican Jeff Riddell for a full term beginning Jan. 1, 2027. The race for county auditor is also head-to-head: Democrat Craig Snodgrass faces Republican Elaine M. Seguin. James T. Walther is on the ballot for judge of the Court of Common Pleas, Probate Division, and the ballot also includes 9th District Court of Appeals races between Betty Sutton and Cynthia Curtin, and between Nathan Manning and Tavia Galonski.
Legislative races are contested across the county. For Congress in the 5th District, Republican Bob Latta faces Democrat Brian A. Shaver and Libertarian Michael J. Veloff. In the Ohio Senate’s 13th District, Republican Gayle Manning faces Democrat Joe Miller, and in the 52nd Ohio House District, Democrat Mike Baker faces Republican Cliff Winkel. School questions appear locally as well — Elyria City Schools, for one, is seeking an additional 8.9-mill levy for current expenses, estimated to collect $11,609,250 annually and amount to $312 for each $100,000 of market value, for a continuing period of time. Wellington-area voters will also see a renewal for the Herrick Memorial Library on their ballots.
Statewide, Lorain County is voting for governor — Republican Vivek Ramaswamy against Democrat Amy Acton — and for U.S. senator, where Democrat Sherrod Brown challenges Republican Jon Husted. State Issue 3, printed in both English and Spanish on Lorain County ballots, asks voters to amend the Ohio Constitution to require photo identification in order to vote.
Early in-person voting at 1985 North Ridge Road East follows the statewide schedule: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays through Oct. 23; 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24; 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 26; 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 27, also the deadline for absentee ballot applications, which must be received by 8:30 p.m. that day; 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 28 through Oct. 30; 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31; and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 1. Ballots sent by mail must be received by the Board of Elections by 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 3, and Election Day polls are open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.