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Elections adminstrator Chris Fader prepares for the start of early voting at the Mercer County Courthouse on Monday.
CELINA - Today marks the first day of early voting for the May 5 primary election in which the fate of a few consequential issues, such as a children's services levy, will be determined.
"We encourage voters to make a plan, whether it's in-person absentee, mail absentee or waiting till Election Day, the choice is yours," Mercer County Board of Elections director Kristi Rable said. "Make the plan to cast your ballot for the May 5 Gubernatorial Primary Election."
Among the issues at stake in Mercer County this primary election are a 10-year property tax renewal levy for children's services that would garner nearly half a million dollars annually and Parkway Local Schools' five-year property tax renewal levy that brings in $1.39 million each year.
In Auglaize County, St. Marys city law director Zach Ferrall and Shelby County Common Pleas Court magistrate Kristina Morris are slugging it out in the Republican primary for their party's nomination for county common pleas court judge: probate, juvenile and domestic relations division. No Democrat filed.
Nearly every other race for numerous offices in both counties, though, is uncontested this primary election, meaning each unopposed candidate will advance to the Nov. 5 general election. (Both Democrat and Republican voters will vote in several contested races for statewide offices.)
Ahead of the first day of early voting, the Mercer County Board of Elections was open until 9 p.m. Monday, which was the last day to register to vote in the primary.
Early in-person voting hours are uniform across the state: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. today through Friday, April 13-17 and April 20-24; 7:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. April 27; 7:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m. April 28; 7:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. April 29-May 1; 8 a.m.-4 p.m. May 2 and 1-5 p.m. May 3.
Early in-person voting is conducted in the auditorium in the southwest corner of the Mercer County Courthouse in Celina, and the Auglaize Board of Elections Office at 209 S. Blackhoof St., Room 205, Wapakoneta.
"We want to remind voters as they come in to vote, they will be asked what party ballot they would like, Democratic, Libertarian or Republican or they may request an Issue Only ballot that would not affiliate them with a party," Rable said. "We would also like to remind voters they will need to provide a valid form of photo ID to cast a regular ballot."
More specifically, a government-issued photo identification with an expiration date that has not passed is required to vote. Valid IDs include a driver's license, state of Ohio ID card, interim ID form issued by Ohio BMV, U.S. passport, U.S. passport card, U.S. military ID card, Ohio National Guard ID card and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs ID card.
Additionally, in Ohio, a person who is 17 years old at the time of a primary election - but will be 18 years old on or before the day of the next general election - is allowed to vote in that primary election, the Ohio Secretary of State Week in Review points out.
"However, their ballot is limited to candidates seeking nomination for the general election.
They cannot vote on questions, issues, or state and central committee contests in the primary," the review makes clear.
Voters also can request absentee ballots from their board of elections. Absentee ballot applications must be received by the board by 8:30 p.m. April 28. Applications are available on boards of elections' websites.
Absentee ballots returned by U.S. mail must be received by boards of elections by 7:30 p.m. May 5 to be counted.
Individuals may deposit their personal absentee ballot in drop boxes at each county board of elections office. The Mercer County drop box is located in the circle driveway on the north side of the courthouse. The Auglaize County drop box is located in the alley on the north side of the administration building.
As of Monday, the Mercer County Board of Elections had received 71 applications for an absentee ballot to be sent by mail, according to Rable.
• Incumbent county auditor Jeff Larmore is running unopposed in the Republican primary. No Democrat filed for the position,
• Incumbent county coroner Alyssa A. Tobe is running unopposed in the Republican primary. No Democrat filed for the position.
• Incumbent county commissioner Dave Buschur is running unopposed in the Republican primary. No Democrat filed for the position.
• Incumbent county probate/juvenile court judge Matthew Gilmore is running unopposed in the Republican primary. No Democrat filed for the position.
• Local liquor option in the Celina A precinct for Sunday sales of wine and mixed beverages, and spiritous liquor by Grand Lake Entertainment doing business as Plaza Lanes Celina.
• Mercer County Commissioners, on behalf of Mercer County Job and Family Services, submitted a 10-year, 0.4-mill property tax renewal levy for children's services. The levy would generate $487,214 annually and cost the owner of a $100,000 home $9 per year, according to Auditor Jeff Larmore's certification.
• Parkway Local Schools submitted a five-year, 8.97-mill property tax renewal levy. The levy would generate $1.39 million annually and cost the owner of a $100,000 home $185 per year, according to Larmore's certification.
• State Rep Angie King, R-Celina, is running unopposed in the Republican primary for Ohio's 84th House District. Arienne Childrey is running unopposed in the Democratic primary for Ohio's 84th House District.
• St. Marys city law director Zach Ferrall and Shelby County Common Pleas Court magistrate Kristina Morris face off in the Republican primary for county common pleas court judge: probate, juvenile and domestic relations division. No Democrat filed. Longtime Judge Mark E. Spees served in the position for 31 years, and entered his sixth and final term in 2021. He is unable to seek reelection due to judicial age limits.
• Incumbent county commissioner Doug Spencer is running unopposed in the Republican primary. No Democrat filed for the position.
• Incumbent county auditor Linda Brice is running unopposed in the Republican primary. No Democrat filed.
• Incumbent county prosecutor Ben Elder is running unopposed in the Republican primary. No Democrat filed.
• Incumbent county treasurer Mandy Frank is running unopposed in the Republican primary. No Democrat filed.
• Minster Local Schools submitted a five-year, 1.05-mill permanent improvement renewal levy. The levy would generate $90,423 annually and cost the owner of a $100,000 home $12 per year.
• State Rep Angie King, R-Celina, is running unopposed in the Republican primary for Ohio's 84th House District, which includes St. Marys, New Bremen, Minster, New Knoxville and Wapakoneta. Arienne Childrey is running unopposed in the Democratic primary for Ohio's 84th House District.
