CANTON — Early voting is under way in Stark County, where the Nov. 3 general election ballot is topped locally by a transit sales tax renewal, a library levy renewal and increase, a second try at a major school bond issue, and contested races for county commissioner and county auditor. The Stark County Board of Elections, at 3525 Regent Avenue NE in Canton, is open for early in-person voting from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays through Oct. 23.
Two countywide money questions lead the ballot. The Stark Area Regional Transit Authority asks voters to continue its existing 0.25% sales and use tax for another 10 years. The tax is SARTA’s main source of revenue, generating about $19 million a year for its 24 fixed bus routes, and voters turned down a proposed increase to 0.35% in May. Stark Library asks for an eight-year renewal and increase to 2.3 mills, commencing in 2027, that would generate nearly $15 million a year and cost homeowners $55 for every $100,000 of assessed value — an $11 annual increase over the current levy.
The most contested county race is for county commissioner, where Republican Alan Harold, appointed to the board in 2024 after serving as county auditor, seeks a full term against Democrat Tony Townsend, a Massillon city council member. The auditor’s race is also contested, between Republican Angela Kinsey and Democrat Chalice Brown. On the judicial ballot, Judge Frank Forchione is unopposed for the Court of Common Pleas, while Jennifer Dave and Kristen Moore are candidates for another common pleas seat. Judicial candidates appear on the November ballot without party labels.
Plain Local Schools returns with a 37-year, $116,802,000 bond issue — a 3.5-mill levy costing homeowners $122.50 a year for every $100,000 of valuation — to consolidate six elementary schools into three new buildings. Voters rejected the same request in May. School renewals also appear for Massillon City Schools, a 4.9-mill, five-year renewal generating about $3.43 million a year, and Sandy Valley Local Schools, a 2.3-mill renewal.
Township and village questions fill out local ballots: Lake Township voters decide a 2.75-mill additional fire levy that would generate about $3.15 million a year, Nimishillen Township an additional 3-mill fire levy, and several communities decide road and police renewals, along with income tax questions in Navarre and Wilmot and liquor options in Alliance, Lake Township and Paris Township. In the district races, Republican Jane Timken faces Democrat Thomas West for the 29th Ohio Senate District, and U.S. Rep. Emilia Sykes faces Republican Carey Coleman and nonpartisan candidate Sandeep Dixit in the 13th Congressional District, while contested Ohio House races include the 48th, 49th and 50th districts.
Above the local races, Stark County voters will also help decide Ohio’s statewide contests — governor, attorney general, auditor, secretary of state and treasurer, two seats on the Ohio Supreme Court, the U.S. Senate race between Republican Jon Husted and Democrat Sherrod Brown, and statewide Issue 3, the proposed constitutional amendment that would require voters to present photo identification in order to vote.
Early voting hours expand in the final week: 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 26, 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 27, and 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, Oct. 28 to 30, with weekend hours on Saturday, Oct. 24 and Saturday, Oct. 31, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and a final Sunday session on Nov. 1 from 1 to 5 p.m. Voters must bring an accepted photo ID, such as an Ohio driver’s license, a state ID card or a U.S. passport. On Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3, polls will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Photo: Niagara66, CC BY-SA 4.0