MOUNT VERNON – On September 12, the Knox County Board of Elections made public the final list of candidates and issues that will appear on the November 6 ballot.
There are 16 general election races on the ballot, as well as 21 issues, ranging from school levies to Mount Vernon’s charter question.
Kim Horn, in her sixth year as director of the Knox County Board of Elections, said last week that the 21-issue ballot is “about as big as we’ve had since I’ve been director.”
This election year features high-publicity races for positions such as state senator, governor, and representative for Ohio’s 7th congressional district, which encompasses all of Knox County. It also includes local races for county commissioner and auditor.
Horn said that this election has already generated substantial interest among Knox County voters, as the BOE had already received 2,200 absentee ballot requests by September 14. She expects “no less than 10,000” absentee ballots to be mailed in for early voting, which isn’t far from the 14,000 the board received before the 2016 presidential election.
“That would be more than the typical governor’s race, but not as much as what the presidential was,” Horn explained. “I mean, there does seem to be a lot of interest in this election.”
Horn said that, in general, even-year elections generate higher voter turnout because of the federal races that occur during those years.
Something new this year will be the remote voting option for those with disabilities, which will give voters who are blind, deaf, or have other disabilities the means to cast their vote through a remote ballot marking system. The system, which is funded by the state, requires special software to use.
Horn said that due to the program’s novelty – it was just announced this summer – and its requirement on the voter’s end to obtain the software needed to fill out a ballot, she is skeptical that the new system will generate higher voter turnout this November.
“I would be surprised if we had anybody take advantage of it this election, until it becomes more well-known,” Horn said. “We have never had anybody request such a system, but that’s not to say they won’t. I mean, we may get a few until it gets more well-known.”
Early voting begins October 10. Here is the list of general election races and issues on this year’s ballot for Knox County voters (races and issues are listed in order they were presented by BOE; wording was edited lightly for clarity and brevity):
Senator
Sherrod Brown (D)
Jim Renacci (R)
Governor and Lieutenant Governor
Richard Cordray/Betty Sutton (D)
Mike DeWine/John Husted (R)
Constance Gaddell-Newton/Brett R. Joseph (G)
Travis M. Irvine/J. Todd Grayson (L)
Attorney General
Steve Dettelbach (D)
Dave Yost (R)
Auditor of State
Robert C. Coogan (L)
Keith Faber (R)
Zack Space (D)
Secretary of State
Kathleen Clyde (D)
Frank LaRose (R)
Dustin R. Nanna (L)
Treasurer of State
Rob Richardson (D)
Robert Sprague (R)
Supreme Court Justice
Craig Baldwin
Michael P. Donnelly
Supreme Court Justice
Mary DeGenaro
Melody J. Stewart
County Commissioner
Donald Bovinett Jr. (D)
Bill Pursel (R)
County Auditor
Jonette Curry (R)
Congressional Representative: 7th district U.S. House
Bob Gibbs (R)
Ken Harbaugh (D)
State Senator: 19th district Ohio Senate
Andrew O. Brenner (R)
Gary Cox (G)
Louise Valentine (D)
State Representative: 68th district Ohio House
Rick Carfagna (R)
Patrick Joseph Glasgow (L)
Kathleen A. Tate (D)
Judge of the Court of Appeals
John W. Wise
Judge of the Court of Appeals
Scott Gwin
Judge of the Court of Appeals
Patricia A. Delaney
Andrew King
Issues:
Northridge School District – Property tax (Renewal – 7.0 mills, 5 years, commencing 2019. First due 2020). Providing for Emergency requirements.
Loudonville School District – Property tax (Renewal – 1.5 mills, 5 years, commencing 2019. First due 2020). General permanent improvements.
Northridge School District – Income tax & bond issue
- Income tax: Additional 0.5 percent, 30 years, commencing 2019. Permanent improvements.
- Bond issue: Principal $19 million. Rate: 3.4 mills, 30 years. Construction and renovating school facilities, equipment, furnishings, technology, site improvements and all necessary appurtenances.
Knox County – Property tax (Replacement – 1.3 mills 10 years, commencing 2018. First due 2019). Providing funds for the support of Knox County Children’s Services.
Hilliar B – Local option (D-6 permit) – Wine and mixed beverages between the hours of 10 a.m. and midnight at Centerburg Cardinal Market (3895 Columbus Road).
Mount Vernon 2-A – Local option (D-6 permit) – Sunday sales at Stein Brewing Company of Mount Vernon (109 South Main Street).
Fredericktown EMS – Property tax (Renewal – 0.6 mills, 5 years, commencing 2018. First due 2019). To provide emergency medical services.
Centerburg – Local option (D-6 permit) – Sunday sales between 10 a.m. and midnight at Webb’s Marathon (164 East Main Street).
Fredericktown Community Fire District – Property tax (Renewal – 1.0 mills, 5 years, commencing 2019. First due 2020). Fire equipment, protection and operations.
Fredericktown Park District – Property tax (Renewal – 1.5 mills, 3 years, commencing 2019. First due 2020). Parks and recreational purposes.
Pike Township – Property tax (Renewal – 0.5 mills, 5 years, commencing 2019. First due 2020). Operating and maintaining cemeteries.
Clinton Township – Property tax (Renewal – 1.5 mills, 5 years, commencing 2019. First due 2020). Fire and emergency medical services.
Berlin Township – Property tax (Renewal – 2.0 mills, 4 years, commencing 2019. First due 2020). Roads and bridges.
Clinton Township – Property tax (Renewal – 2.5 mills, 5 years, commencing 2019. First due 2020). Fire and EMS.
College Township – Property tax (Additional – 1.0 mills, 5 years, commencing 2018. First due 2019). Fire and EMS.
Liberty Township – Property tax (Additional – 0.9 mills, 5 years, commencing 2018. First due 2019). To purchase road equipment.
Hilliar Township – Property tax (Replacement – 0.5 mills, 5 years, commencing 2019. First due 2020). Operating and maintaining cemeteries.
Morgan Township – Property tax (Renewal – 0.8 mills, 3 years, commencing 2019. First due 2020). Ambulance and emergency medical services.
Monroe Township – Property tax (Renewal – 2.0 mills, 5 years, commencing 2019. First due 2020). Fire and emergency medical services.
Morgan Township – Property tax (Renewal – 3.0 mills, 3 years, commencing 2019. First due 2020). Roads, streets and bridges.
City of Mount Vernon – Proposed charter commission ballot
Statewide: Issue 1
