MILLERSBURG — Early voting is under way in Holmes County, where voters are deciding a Nov. 3 general election ballot topped locally by a renewal of the county’s roads and bridges sales tax. The Holmes County Board of Elections, at 75 East Clinton Street in Millersburg, is open for early in-person voting from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday this week.
The countywide question asks voters to continue the county’s existing 0.25 percent sales and use tax for five more years. The Board of County Commissioners proposes the continuation to provide additional revenue for the acquisition, construction, equipping or repair of permanent improvements — specifically the construction, reconstruction, resurfacing and repair of all roads and bridges within the county other than state roads and bridges. Because it continues a tax shoppers already pay, approval would not change the rate at the register.
County offices, by contrast, are uncontested this cycle. Republican Dave Hall is the only candidate for the county commissioner term beginning Jan. 1, 2027, Republican Jackie McKee is the only candidate for county auditor, and Republican Richard L. Haun Jr. is the only candidate for sheriff, for the unexpired term ending Dec. 31, 2028.
The courthouse slate is likewise unopposed. Sean Warner is the only candidate for judge of the Court of Common Pleas’ general and domestic relations division, Thomas C. Lee is the only candidate for the court’s probate and juvenile division, both terms beginning Feb. 9, 2027, and Republican Matthew George is the only candidate for the Fifth District Court of Appeals seat on the ballot.
The contested choices for Holmes County voters come in the district races. Republican Troy Balderson faces Democrat Jerrad Christian in the 12th Congressional District, Democrat Scott Charland faces Republican Ryan Rivers in the 19th Ohio Senate District, and Democrat Scott Grund faces Republican Mark Hiner in the 98th Ohio House District.
Township, village and school questions vary across the county, from Berlin Township to Millersburg and the East and West Holmes school districts, and voters can check exactly which questions, if any, apply to them through the board of elections sample ballot lookup before they vote. The sales tax continuation is the one question every Holmes County voter will decide.
Above the local races, Holmes 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 across Holmes County will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.