The Franklin County Board of Elections has officially locked in the May 5 primary ballot, signing off on a roster that sends dozens of local and state contests to voters this spring. The certified lineup stretches from congressional and statehouse races to county offices, plus a long list of local levies and particular-location liquor questions that will pop up on ballots across Columbus and neighboring townships.
Major Races To Watch
The certified candidate list posted by the Franklin County Board of Elections confirms several contested federal and state showdowns. In the 3rd Congressional District Democratic primary, U.S. Rep. Joyce Beatty will appear on the ballot alongside Joe Gerard. The 15th District field features Democrats Don Leonard and Adam C. Miller, with Republicans Mike Carey and Samuel Ronan also in the mix.
Countywide, familiar names such as County Auditor Michael Stinziano and County Commissioner candidate Erica Crawley are listed on the certified roster, along with multiple judicial and statehouse primaries that could shift the look of local leadership once the votes are counted.
Who Did Not Make The Ballot
Several hopefuls who initially filed to run did not survive the certification process. Some prospective candidates were ruled off the ballot because they came up short on valid petition signatures or ran into other technical problems, according to The Columbus Dispatch. That review trimmed a few races and cleared out a handful of would-be challengers before the primary even started.
Levies, Taxes And Alcohol Sales On The Line
The county’s certified questions and issues file lays out dozens of local measures, including school and library levies, fire and police tax renewals, and new income tax proposals. Voters will also see a cluster of “particular location” local-option questions asking whether specific restaurants, bars and convenience stores can sell alcohol on Sundays or extend their hours.
The full list of measures, which covers communities such as Pickerington, Minerva Park, and Franklin and Prairie townships, is available from the Franklin County Board of Elections.
How To See Your Ballot And Plan Your Vote
Before May 5 rolls around, voters are encouraged to look up their sample ballot, confirm their polling place, and review early voting windows so they know exactly which contests and issues apply to their address. Local reporting and voter guides point residents to the county board’s online tools for sample ballots and absentee voting instructions; WOSU offers background on how to use those resources.
If you are not sure whether you are registered or what will show up on your ballot, the board’s voter lookup and sample ballot tool can confirm your status and the exact version of the ballot you will see.
Election Day is Tuesday, May 5. With the certified slate now public, campaigns are shifting into full primary mode, so this is a good time to study the candidates, scan the fine print on those levies and local options, and pull up your sample ballot so you know what you will be weighing in on in your neighborhood.
