LEBANON — Early in-person voting is under way at the Warren County Board of Elections in Lebanon, and the Tuesday, Nov. 3 general election ballot is headlined by a three-way race for county commissioner and two countywide levy renewals.
Republican Commissioner Tom Grossmann, who has served on the board of commissioners since 2015, faces Democrat Ian Logan and Libertarian Katherine Bowles for the full term beginning Jan. 1, 2027. Grossmann survived a well-funded Republican primary challenge from Lebanon Mayor Mark Messer earlier this year. Republican Matt Nolan is unopposed for county auditor.
Two countywide questions ask voters to renew existing taxes: the Mental Health Recovery Board levy, 1 mill for five years for current expenses, and the levy providing or maintaining senior citizens services, 1.21 mills for five years. Both are renewals, not new taxes.
School and township questions vary by community. Franklin City Schools seeks a 1.25 percent earnings tax for five years, and Lebanon City Schools seeks a 1 percent earnings tax for 10 years. Franklin Township asks to renew a 0.25-mill senior services levy for five years, while Turtlecreek Township seeks an additional 4.5-mill levy for fire apparatus, for a continuing period of time.
On the judicial side, Republican Gary A. Loxley is the candidate for judge of the Court of Common Pleas, General Division, for a term beginning Feb. 8, 2027, and Republican Joseph W. Kirby is the candidate for the court’s Probate and Juvenile Division. In the 1st Congressional District, Democratic U.S. Rep. Greg Landsman faces Republican Eric Conroy, and in the 7th Ohio Senate District, Republican Zac Haines faces Democrat Cara Jacob.
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: Ohio Redevelopment Projects – ODSA, CC BY 2.0