Columbus 2026 voter guide: Key races, ballot issues and deadlines
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The Nov. 3 general election is fast approaching, so here's what to know about your ballot in Columbus and Franklin County.
🗳 How to vote
The big picture: Early in-person voting continues through Sunday, Nov. 1.
- Schedule … where to go.
- Absentee ballots (by mail or drop off) must be received by your board of election by 7:30pm Nov. 3.
Election Day voting is 6:30am-7:30pm Nov. 3.
- Voters must bring a valid photo ID.
- Find your polling place … what's on your ballot.
🗺️ Columbus ward proposals
A pair of Columbus City Charter amendments propose changes to how City Council members are elected.
The current system has nine districts where each member must reside, but the whole city votes on all nine races.
- Issue 8: Petitioners want to end at-large voting to have just residents of a district voting for each race.
- Issue 9: City Council members propose the same change, but their amendment would expand the council by four seats that would represent (and be voted upon) by the whole city.
👀 Governor's race
This fiercely contested showdown features Republican entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and Democrat Amy Acton, the state's former health director.
Why it matters: The election will determine whether Ohio continues its run of Republican leadership or elects a Democrat for the first time since Ted Strickland in 2006.
The big picture: Ramaswamy, a biotech entrepreneur and former presidential candidate from Cincinnati, is campaigning on deregulation and conservative education reforms.
- Acton, who became a household name as the initial face of Ohio's pandemic response, is emphasizing affordability, public education and health care.
Friction point: The race has received national attention for a controversial Ramaswamy ad involving Acton's estranged mother, which has received fierce bipartisan backlash.
📢 Senate race
Republican Sen. Jon Husted seeks to fend off former Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown in a race with big implications and huge amounts of money being spent on campaign ads.
Why it matters: The race may determine control of the Senate. A good showing from Brown could return Ohio to swing-state status in 2028.
State of play: Data center opposition and transgender rights are issues that have defined the race, which is considered to be a toss-up.
🪪 Ohio Issue 3
Ohio voters will decide whether to approve photo ID requirements at the polls as a constitutional amendment, making existing voting rules harder to change.
Why it matters: Ohio already requires photo ID to vote in person, but Issue 3 would enshrine that requirement in the state constitution — limiting lawmakers' ability to remove it while leaving some implementation details to state law.
🌰 Other statewide offices
Ohio voters will also choose who oversees state elections, finances, law enforcement and the state's highest court.
- Attorney general: Republican Keith Faber faces Democrat John Kulewicz for the state's top legal office.
- Secretary of state: Republican Robert Sprague, Democrat Allison Russo and Libertarian Tom Pruss are vying to become Ohio's chief elections officer.
- Auditor: Republican Frank LaRose faces Democrat Annette Blackwell for the office responsible for auditing public spending.
- Treasurer: Republican Jay Edwards, a former state representative, faces Cincinnati City Council member Seth Walsh, a Democrat, to oversee state investments and finances.
- Ohio Supreme Court: Sitting Republican Justice Daniel Hawkins faces Democratic Judge Marilyn Zayas, while sitting Democratic Justice Jennifer Brunner faces Republican Judge Colleen O'Donnell.
🏛️ Congressional races
3rd District: Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Columbus) is running for an eighth term against Republican Cleophus Dulaney in the northern Franklin County district.
15th District: Rep. Mike Carey (R-Columbus) is running for a third full term against Democrat Don Leonard and Libertarian Brennan Barrington in the district that includes part of Franklin County and other counties to the south and west.
Franklin County's full candidate list
🔎 More local issues
🔟 In Gahanna, 10 different proposed charter amendments go to a vote.
- The proposed changes stem from a charter review commission process, and would adjust mayoral elections, ward boundaries, council voting rules and more.
📜 Worthington voters will decide on four different proposed charter amendments related to referendums.
- Three of the issues were recommended by the city's charter review commission — the fourth was a citizen-led initiative opposed by the city and the Worthington Area Chamber of Commerce.
🎒 The Bexley school district is asking for a 0.5% income tax, combined with a property tax bond to pay for a new middle school and facility projects.
🏫 A South-Western bond would replace two aging high schools and fund other renovations.
⬇️ Pickerington City Schools will try again for an income tax levy, at a lower rate of 0.75%.
💰 Upper Arlington's district is seeking a bond to replace multiple schools and expand its high school, combined with a property tax levy to fund general expenses.
🚨 Upper Arlington voters will also decide a police and fire pension levy.
🚓 Township levies: Hamilton (roads), Madison (police and fire), Mifflin (police), Sharon (roads) and Truro (operating expenses).