Columbiana County special primary election voter guide — what you need to know right now
Tuesday, July 5, is the last day to register to vote in Ohio’s special Aug. 2 primary election. Early voting at county boards of elections begins the following Wednesday, July 6.
In this guide, you’ll find all the candidates for state House and Senate and central committee seats that will appear on Columbiana County voters’ ballots.
Ohio’s disputes over new state legislative districts are ongoing. Secretary of State Frank LaRose earlier this year ordered county boards of elections to remove state legislative and central committee races that rely on those districts from May 3 primary ballots.
In May, a federal judicial panel ordered Ohio to conduct an Aug. 2 primary using temporary district maps previously voided by the Ohio Supreme Court for being gerrymandered to favor Republican candidates. Those maps will remain in effect for the general election in November. The Ohio Redistricting Commission must later reconvene and approve a new set of legislative maps that will remain in effect until 2030.
Voters in the May 3 primary already nominated party candidates for federal races like congressional representatives; statewide races like governor and secretary of state; and local races like county commissioner and judge.
What you need to know now
How to register to vote: You can click here to register online. You can also download an application from the Secretary of State website, print it, and mail it to: Columbiana County Board of Elections, 7989 Dickey Drive, Suite 3, Lisbon, OH 44432.
Documents you need to register online: Ohio driver’s license or state ID with number; name; date of birth; address; last four digits of your Social Security number.
When to register to vote: To vote in the Aug. 2 special primary election, your registration application must be received by mail, or delivered to the board of elections office, or online no later than Tuesday, July 5. Boards of elections offices are open until 9 p.m. on July 5.
Who can register to vote: U.S. citizens, at least 18 years old on or before Aug. 2, 2022, and a resident of Ohio for at least 30 days before the election.
If I’m already registered, should I check my voter registration?: Yes. You can do so at the Secretary of State website.
How to request an absentee/mail-in ballot: If you choose not to vote at a public polling location on Election Day, you can request a ballot in advance — called absentee voting. Voters can click here to print the form from the Secretary of State website. Though the board of elections may have received your application, it won’t start mailing absentee ballots until July 6.
When to request an absentee/mail-in ballot: You can request an absentee ballot now for the special primary election on Aug. 2. The window to request is open until three days before the election but in practicality that deadline leaves little time for the postal service to get the ballot to you and for you to return it.
When and how to return an absentee/mail-in ballot: Your completed ballot must be postmarked — at the latest — by Aug. 1, the day before the election. Placing the ballot in a mailbox does not guarantee that it will be postmarked. Deliver it personally to a post office and request that it be marked. It’s your responsibility to make sure it has enough postage. Alternatively, you can drop it off in person at your county board of elections during business hours and before the polls close at 7:30 p.m. on Election Day. You don’t have to wait until Election Day to deliver.
In Columbiana County, the absentee ballot dropbox is a gray box with American flag stickers to the left of the elections office’s main entrance at 7989 Dickey Drive, Suite 3. It has a sign reading, “Absentee Ballots and Election Dropbox.”
Can I track my absentee/mail-in ballot? Yes. Click here to track your absentee ballot on the county board of elections website.
How, where and when to vote early in-person: You can vote early at the county elections office, 7989 Dickey Drive, Suite 3, Lisbon, which will open for early voting on July 6, 28 days before Election Day. You’ll need identification, such as a driver’s license, bank statement, utility bill, pay stub, military or state ID to vote.
All Ohio board of elections offices have extended hours to accommodate early voters:
Where do I vote on Election Day? On Election Day, Aug. 2, you’ll visit your polling place to vote in-person. If you’re already registered to vote, you can look up your polling place on the county elections board’s website. If you’ve already cast an absentee or mail-in ballot or voted early in-person, you won’t be able to vote on Election Day.
How to be a poll worker: Ohio relies on 35,000 registered, bipartisan voters to work the polls on Election Day. Because many poll workers are of retirement age, they face increased health risks due to COVID-19. Last year, there was high interest in expanding the hiring pool to include younger people. Pay varies by county.
Click here to sign up to be a poll worker. You can also download an application and find other poll worker resources on the Columbiana County elections board website. You can also call the county elections office at 330-424-1448 and ask to speak to a poll workers coordinator.
Still have questions? Here’s a list of other links and resources for Columbiana County voting.
Below is a rundown of the races that will be on Columbiana County primary ballots. Your ballot will look different depending on where you live. You can look up your ballot here.
This election guide was produced with contributions from the Ohio media collaborative Your Voice Ohio.
Columbiana County Democratic candidates
State Senator, 33rd District (nominate one, uncontested)
Four-year term beginning in January 2023
- Bob Hagan of Youngstown
This district encompasses all of Mahoning, Columbiana and Carroll counties.
State Representative, 59th District (nominate one)
Two-year term beginning in January 2023
- John R. Dyce of Hanoverton
- Lauren R. McNally of Youngstown
- Wayne Penny Jr. of Youngstown
- Ronald Shadd of Youngstown
This district includes the townships of Butler, Hanover, Knox and West.
State Representative, 79th District (nominate one, uncontested)
Two-year term beginning in January 2023
- Taylor Eastham of East Liverpool
This district includes all of Columbiana County except the townships of Butler, Hanover, Knox and West.
State Central Committee, 33rd District (elect one man and one woman, uncontested)
- Mike Ray of Youngstown (man)
- Joyce Kale-Pesta of Youngstown (woman)
Columbiana County Republican candidates
State Senator, 33rd District (nominate one, uncontested)
Four-year term beginning in January 2023
- Michael Anthony Rulli of Salem (incumbent)
This district encompasses all of Mahoning, Columbiana and Carroll counties.
State Representative, 59th District (uncontested)
Two-year term beginning in January 2023
- No valid petition has been filed.
This district includes the townships of Butler, Hanover, Knox and West.
State Representative, 79th District (nominate one, uncontested)
Two-year term beginning in January 2023
- Monica Robb Blasdel of Columbiana
This district includes all of Columbiana County except the townships of Butler, Hanover, Knox and West.
State Central Committee, 33rd District (elect one man and one woman)
- Rick Barron of Youngstown (man)
- David W. Johnson of Salem (man)
- Monica Robb Blasdel of Columbiana (woman)
This story was originally published July 1, 2022 at 5:00 AM.