Voter ID law goes into effect
A handful of contested races for elected office in the city of Bellefontaine and a quartet of levy requests throughout the county to fund public services are featured on the May 2 primary election ballot.
The Logan County Board of Elections has certified the list of candidates and questions to be decided upon, and is also alerting voters to changes in voting procedures, including which forms of identification will be acceptable to cast a ballot.
Because there are no contested races on the Democratic ballot, there will not be a Democratic ballot to choose from in this primary, the board of elections reports.
Contested races for offices of Bellefontaine mayor and municipal court judge highlight the Republican primary. Incumbent mayor Ben Stahler is opposed by David A. Crissman.
The winner of that race will face off against Tim Steinhelfer, who will run as a Democrat in the November General Election.
Jacob Estes and Crystal Welsh are each running to be the Republican nominee for municipal court judge. The winner of that May 2 primary will run unopposed in the General Election, as there is no Democratic candidate in the race.
Elected officials in the village of DeGraff are asking voters there to approve an additional half-percent continuous income tax to build a new fire station and purchase a new truck and equipment.
According to ballot language, the funds will be used for the purpose of, “acquiring, constructing, furnishing, equipping, improving, maintaining, and operating a municipal fire station facility, a fire truck and related fire apparatus.”
The new income tax would also pay for any related operating expenses, as well as to pay off debt service charges incurred as part of the construction of the building and/or purchase of the new fire truck.
The village of Huntsville also seeks additional monies for fire protection. Council has asked for a five-year, 1.5 mills additional property tax levy for fire protection and EMS services.
A pair of renewal requests round out the village and township issues.
Jefferson Township is asking for a five-year, .5 mills property tax renewal to fund its library.
Stokes Township Southwest Fire District requests voters renew a five-year, 1.6 mills property tax for the purpose of fire protection.
As a result of Ohio House Bill 458 passed by the Ohio state legislature, polling locations are now accepting fewer forms of voter identification in order to vote. Previously, registered voters could provide a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows their name and address. That is no longer the case.
Effective this election, only photo identification will be accepted to vote. These forms of ID include a driver’s license, state ID card, or interim ID form issued by the BMV; a U.S. passport; or military ID.
If a voter arrives to vote without their photo ID, they may still cast a provisional ballot, but they must return to the board of elections office within four days of Election Day with their photo ID. If they do not provide their photo ID in that time frame, the provisional ballot will not be counted.
These changes to voter ID law are unlikely to have much effect on voters casting ballots in Logan County, as the majority of voters already use a form of photo ID to cast a ballot.
Since November 2021, a total of 19,984 voters have voted in Logan County across four separate elections, the board of elections reported. Of those who voted on Election Day, 76 (.38 percent) presented identification other than a photo ID in order to vote.
Rounding out the ballot for the May 2 primary, Republicans Deborah E. Baker, Jenna James and Kyle Spriggs vie for the Bellefontaine City Council at-large seat. Democrat Victoria Maddox is also contesting an at-large seat on the city council, and will appear on the November General Election ballot.
Bellefontaine Law Director Joshua Stolly; Auditor Fred Brentlinger; and President of Council Zeb Wagner are each running unopposed in both the primary and general elections.
Likewise, Republican city councilmen John G. Aler, first ward, and Nick Davis, third ward; and Democratic councilwoman MacKenzie Myers Fitzpatrick, fourth ward, are each unopposed in the primary and general elections.
The race to represent Belelfontaine’s second ward on city council will not be decided until the November General Election, as Republican incumbent Jordan Reser is contested by C. Raymond Swisher.
Early voting for the upcoming primary begins at 8 a.m., Monday, April 4. For more information, contact the Logan County Board of Elections, 599-7255.