SIDNEY — Early voting is under way in Shelby County, where the Nov. 3 general election ballot is topped locally by a mental health and recovery services levy renewal that reaches voters across the county, a courthouse slate settled largely in the May primary, and contested races for Congress and the Statehouse. The Shelby County Board of Elections, at 230 East Court Street in Sidney, is open for early in-person voting ahead of Election Day.
The countywide tax question is a renewal levy for the Tri-County Board of Recovery and Mental Health Services. The renewal is 0.6 mill for five years, commencing in 2027, and the county auditor estimates it will collect $2,596,848 annually — about $10 for each $100,000 of the county auditor’s market value — to provide counseling and supportive services to children and adults through alcohol and drug addiction programs and mental health programs. Because it is a renewal, the levy continues an existing tax rather than creating a new one.
The courthouse offices on the November ballot carry single candidates who emerged from the primary. Republican David L. Spicer is the candidate for county commissioner for a full term beginning Jan. 1, 2027, and Republican Amy L. Berning is the candidate for county auditor, the office that appraises property and calculates the county’s taxes. Jeffrey J. Beigel is the candidate for judge of the Court of Common Pleas’ probate and juvenile division for a term beginning Feb. 9, 2027, and Republican Mark C. Miller is the candidate for the Third District Court of Appeals. Judicial candidates appear on the November ballot without party labels.
The contested choices on Shelby County ballots come in the district races. In the 4th Congressional District, Republican Jim Jordan faces Democrat Joshua D. Kolasinski and Tracey L. Tackett. In the 85th Ohio House District, Republican Tim Barhorst faces Democrat Victoria Maddox. The winners will represent a fast-growing county in Washington and Columbus, where decisions on infrastructure, agriculture and state funding are made.
Beyond the county and district races, township, village and school questions vary by precinct across Shelby County, from Sidney to Anna, Botkins, Fort Loramie and Jackson Center, and voters can preview their own sample ballot through the board of elections’ “What’s on the Ballot?” tools before voting. The Board of Elections reminds voters that Election Day polling locations will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 3.
Above the local races, Shelby 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 in-person voting follows the statewide schedule: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays this week, expanding in the final week to 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: Antony-22, CC BY-SA 4.0