RAVENNA, Ohio — Portage County voters heading to the polls early for the Tuesday, Nov. 3 general election will find two countywide levies, a contested commissioner race and a pair of city income tax questions that have drawn months of debate in Kent and Ravenna. Early in-person voting is under way at the Portage County Board of Elections in Ravenna, and Election Day polls will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Issue 13 asks for an additional tax for Portage County Job and Family Services, funding public assistance, human and social services, including children and adult services. The county auditor estimates the levy will collect $2,451,896 annually at a rate not exceeding 0.4 mill, which amounts to $14 for each $100,000 of market value, for five years commencing in 2026. Issue 14 is a renewal for the Portage County Mental Health and Recovery Board, estimated to collect $1,157,027 annually at a rate not exceeding 0.3 mill, or $6 for each $100,000 of market value, for 10 years commencing in 2027.
In the two largest cities, the questions are about income taxes. Ravenna’s Issue 15 would add a 0.25 percent municipal income tax for 30 years, beginning Jan. 1, 2027, to plan, build, furnish and equip a new fire station, police station and city hall complex — a proposal voters rejected in a similar form in May, now back with a facilities study under way to weigh options including renovating existing buildings. Kent’s Issue 16 asks voters to make permanent a 0.25 percent income tax increase first approved in 2013 for a 25-year term.
The top contested county race is for county commissioner, where Republican incumbent Mike Tinlin faces Democrat Jenny Adams. Auditor Matt Kelly is unopposed for another term, as is Common Pleas Judge Becky Doherty. School questions dot the ballot as well, including Ravenna’s Issue 5, a continuing permanent improvement levy of up to 2.9 mills that raises about $947,150 a year and, paired with a state grant offer of about $35 million, would fund a new kindergarten-through-sixth-grade building on the district’s North Chestnut Street campus.
District races give Portage County voters several more choices. In the 13th Congressional District, Democratic incumbent Emilia Sykes faces Republican Carey Coleman and independent Sandeep Dixit. Republican Steve Demetriou and Democrat Mike Roberto are running in the 27th Senate District, and the 72nd House District race features Republican incumbent Heidi Workman, Democrat Jeff Clapper and independent Michael Fricke.
Statewide races appear on the ballot as well, led by the governor’s race between Republican Vivek Ramaswamy and Democrat Amy Acton and the unexpired U.S. Senate term between Democrat Sherrod Brown and Republican Jon Husted. State Issue 3, a proposed constitutional amendment, would put Ohio’s photo ID requirements for voting into the state constitution.
Early voting hours follow the state schedule: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays through Oct. 23, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, extended hours in the final week, and 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 1. Absentee applications must be received by 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 27, and mail ballots must arrive by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day. Voters casting a ballot in person must show an accepted photo ID, such as an Ohio driver’s license, state ID card or U.S. passport.
Photo: JonRidinger, CC BY 3.0