DEFIANCE — Early in-person voting is under way at the Defiance County Board of Elections, 1300 E. Second St., Suite 103 in Defiance, and the local ballot for the Tuesday, Nov. 3 general election is led by a levy for the Defiance Public Library System and two contested county races.
The library levy totals 1.65 mills. It combines a 0.75-mill renewal of the system’s existing operating levy — a millage that has not changed in 24 years — with a 0.9-mill additional tax. The levy is estimated to cost about $47 per $100,000 of property value. The additional millage would be split roughly evenly between operating expenses and construction for the library’s annex project, which includes renovations to the historic Carnegie library building. The system serves readers through the Defiance Public Library and its Sherwood and Johnson Memorial locations.
The race for county commissioner, full term beginning Jan. 1, 2027, pits Republican Dana Phipps against Democrat Mike Armstrong. Voters will also decide a commissioner seat for an unexpired term ending Jan. 2, 2029, where Republican Matthew J. Koester is on the ballot.
The county auditor’s race is contested as well: Republican Vickie S. Myers faces Democrat John Hancock. In the 9th Congressional District, Republican Derek Merrin challenges longtime Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur.
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 (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 in Defiance 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.