BRYAN — Early in-person voting is under way at the Williams County Board of Elections in Bryan, and the Tuesday, Nov. 3 general election ballot is built around three county tax questions, while the county offices themselves are unopposed.
Republican Bartley E. Westfall is the only candidate for county commissioner for the full term beginning Jan. 1, 2027, Republican Vickie L. Grimm is unopposed for county auditor, and Republican Karen K. Gallagher is unopposed for judge of the Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile and Probate Division, for a term beginning Feb. 9, 2027.
Issue 6 asks voters to renew the Williams County OSU Extension levy: 0.4 mill for five years, commencing in 2027, estimated to collect $311,924 a year — about $8 per $100,000 of market value — for educational activities related to agriculture, natural resources and 4-H programs.
Issue 7 is the ballot’s one new county tax: an additional 1-mill levy for senior citizens services and to maintain the senior department’s vehicles and facilities, estimated to collect $1,182,325 a year — about $35 per $100,000 of market value — for five years commencing in 2026. Issue 8 asks voters across the four-county district to renew the Four County Board of Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services levy: 0.7 mill for five years, commencing in 2027, estimated to collect $2,293,020 a year — about $13 per $100,000.
The contested races are for seats representing the county. In the 81st Ohio House District, Republican Patti Rockey faces Democrat David Swanson. Republican Craig S. Riedel is the candidate for the 1st District state Senate seat, and in the 9th Congressional District, Democratic U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur faces Republican Derek Merrin. Two 6th District Court of Appeals seats are also on the ballot, with Michael R. Goulding, Myron C. Duhart and CJ Kamm among the candidates by term.
Statewide, Ohio voters will choose a governor — Republican Vivek Ramaswamy, Democrat Amy Acton or Libertarian Don Kissick — and decide a U.S. Senate race between Republican Jon Husted, Democrat Sherrod Brown and Libertarian William B. Redpath. Also on the ballot are attorney general (Keith Faber vs. John J. Kulewicz), auditor of state (Frank LaRose vs. Annette Blackwell), secretary of state (Robert Sprague vs. Allison Russo), treasurer of state (Jay Edwards vs. Seth Walsh), two Ohio Supreme Court seats, and State Issue 3, a proposed constitutional amendment that would require photo identification to vote.
Early in-person voting continues at the board of elections office from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays through Oct. 23, then expands: Saturday, Oct. 24 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Monday, Oct. 26 from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; Tuesday, Oct. 27 from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.; Oct. 28–30 from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 31 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Sunday, Nov. 1 from 1 to 5 p.m. Absentee ballot applications are due by 8:30 p.m. on Oct. 27, and voted absentee ballots must be received by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day. Voters must show photo identification, and polls will be open Tuesday, Nov. 3 from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Photo: Christopher L. Riley, CC BY-SA 4.0