A 2024 primary election guide for Central Ohio

Contested races for U.S. Senate and Franklin County prosecutor headline today's primary election ballot for Columbus-area voters.

Why it matters: Voters will decide the eventual balance of the Senate, a new approach to criminal justice and numerous issues affecting their pocketbooks.

How it works: All registered voters are eligible for this primary, not just those tied to a political party.

• Voters select a Democratic or Republican ballot, or can ask for an issues-only ballot.
• Find your polling place and view a sample ballot .
• Remember to bring a valid ID to vote .

Zoom in: Entrepreneur Bernie Moreno, state Sen. Matt Dolan and Secretary of State Frank LaRose seek the GOP Senate nomination to face incumbent Democrat Sherrod Brown this November.

• Former President Trump backs Moreno and campaigned here last weekend, but Dolan has made a late push in a race that has largely focused on immigration and border security issues .
• The general election is expected to be an expensive toss-up race that could decide which party controls the Senate.

Also, three candidates are campaigning to replace fellow Democrat and retiring incumbent county prosecutor Gary Tyack.

• The candidates are Shayla D. Favor, a Columbus City Council member, Anthony Pierson, deputy chief counsel for the county prosecutor's office, and Natalia S. Harris, Delaware city attorney.
• Attorney John Rutan is running unopposed for the Republican nomination.

Across Franklin County, the ballot includes :

• 🏫 Six community and three school district levies ;
• 🏛 Contested Statehouse races for both parties ;
• ⬅ Democratic primaries for the Ohio Supreme Court , 15th Congressional District and Franklin County Common Pleas Court judge .

The fine print: Joe Biden and Donald Trump have already clinched their parties' presidential nominations , though their former opponents are still listed on the ballot.

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