Make your voices heard by voting in the Primary Election

CIRCLEVILLE — Folks will go to the polls today (Tuesday) to cast their ballots in the Primary Election.

Polls will be open between 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

As a reminder, photo ID is required to vote in person, and the BMV offers a free state-issued ID card with proper ID documents.

As to early voting — 3,526 total ballots have been issued and 3,395 of those have been received, according to the Pickaway County Board of Elections. Ballots that were postmarked March 18 and received in the Board office by Saturday, March 23, at 5 p.m. will be added to the official results, with certification to be held at 3 p.m. March 29 at the Board of Elections Office.

Additionally, any voter that cast a “provisional ballot” for not having an ID or providing an expired ID, and any voter that has been notified there is a problem with their returned absentee ballot (due to omitted information), has until Saturday, March 23, at 5 p.m., to provide the information requested and/or valid ID in order for their ballot to be counted in the official counts.

A provisional ballot is provided to voters who may have moved, changed their name, or do not have a valid ID when they appear to vote. These ballots are reviewed to determine if the voter was eligible to cast a ballot in the state of Ohio and that they did not cast a ballot anywhere else in the state of Ohio. The board will vote to approve and count all eligible provisional ballots which will be added to the official results.

There are several contested Republican races in Pickaway County.

In the race for Pickaway County Clerk of Courts Grant Davis and Tracey Garrett have been certified for the Republican Primary.

In the race for Pickaway County Sheriff Matthew Hafey and Dale Thomas have been certified to the ballot for the Republican Primary.

Three candidates, Travis Ricketts, Laura Schweitzer and Sarah Turner have been certified by the board for the Republican primary for County Recorder.

Tammy Deck and John Howley have been certified for the Republican primary in the race for County Treasurer.

Matt Chafin and Judy Wolford were certified for the Republican primary for Pickaway County Common Pleas Court Judge.

Other Republicans appearing on the ballot include Harold Henson for Pickaway County Commissioner, Gary Scherer for Pickaway County Commissioner, Chris Mullins for Pickaway County Engineer, and Jayme Hartley Fountain for Pickaway County Prosecutor.

There will be additional candidates for statewide and federal elections once those have been submitted to local boards of elections, something Pickaway County Board of Elections Director Matthew Nicklas said would happen next week.

In local issues, the City of Circleville has a 0.4 percent income tax levy on the ballot for safety forces commencing January 1, 2025, and expiring December 31, 2029.

Circleville District 2-A also has a local option for Sunday Alcohol Sales at Circleville Duchess.

Perry Township (excluding the Village of New Holland) voters have a property tax replacement levy of 2.5 mills for five years commencing in 2024 for streets and bridges.

Walnut Township has a bond issue for $1.2 million, 0.63 mills for 12 years for construction and renovating a township building.

Teays Valley School District has a bond issue for $96.5 million, 5.33 mills for 37 years for constructing school facilities including two new intermediate schools and renovations to existing school facilities.

There are a few reminders/updates for this election day:

South Bloomfield voters will return to the Municipal Building council chambers for election day voting after casting their ballots in the shelter house at the front of the Marvin Webster Park.Deercreek/Williamsport voters will no longer be voting at the Gym on the Park, they have moved to the Southwest Pickaway Fire House directly off US-22. Voters are asked to enter the parking lot from Cedar Street to avoid blocking the fire house bay doors. All impacted voters should have received a postcard in the mail informing them of this change.The Pickaway County Fairgrounds will not have the Nicholas Drive intersection open for voters to access on Tuesday. Please continue to use the entrance on Lancaster Pike.Election night Results will be available on the Pickaway County Board of Elections website, with the first results reported being all absentee in office and mail votes cast. Results will be posted throughout the night as each polling location returns.