Richland County voters have entered the final week of early voting for the Nov. 3 general election, with in-person voting continuing at the Richland County Board of Elections, 1495 W. Longview Ave., Suite 101, in Mansfield. Early in-person hours run 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, Oct. 28 to 30, then 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31, and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 1, under the Ohio Secretary of State’s statewide early voting schedule.
The deadline to request an absentee ballot passed at 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 27. Voters who already hold a mailed ballot can still return it by mail — it must be postmarked by Monday, Nov. 2 — or deliver it in person to the Board of Elections by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3, when polls across the county will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
The Mansfield News Journal’s Richland County election guide reports a contested race for county commissioner, where Republican incumbent Cliff Mears faces Democrat Mark Kaufmann. The guide also lists incumbent Kelly Badnell facing Robert Franco for probate judge, and Republican incumbent Marilyn John challenged by Democrat Colton Stidam in the 76th Ohio House District, the News Journal reported.
For Congress, three candidates are vying for Ohio’s 4th District seat: incumbent U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan, Democrat Josh D. Kolasinki and independent Tracey L. Tackett, according to the Mansfield News Journal. Richland County voters will also help decide Ohio’s statewide races, including governor and U.S. Senator, on the same ballot.
On the issue side, the News Journal’s guide reports that Lexington Local School District voters will consider two taxes — a new 0.75% earned income tax levy and a 4.8-mill renewal levy — while Madison Local School District voters will consider a 14.4-mill renewal levy. Shelby voters will weigh property tax renewals for both the Shelby Parks Department and the Shelby Health Department, and townships and villages across the county have nearly a dozen levies and issues on their ballots, the News Journal reported.
The Board of Elections has also mailed notices to voters in precincts whose polling places changed for this election, listing the new polling place names and addresses, the Mansfield News Journal reported. Voters with questions about a polling place change can call the Board of Elections at 419-774-5530.
Richland County Transit is offering rides to the early voting site through Oct. 30, with on-call stops at the Board of Elections available on Routes 5 and 9 during daytime hours, according to a community announcement reported by the Mansfield News Journal. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3.