Election Board sets vote rules
WAPAKONETA – County election officials are starting to finalize the new COVID-19 driven voting rules for the 2020 general election.
Due to coronavirus regulations, area polling locations must be ideal for a one-way flow of traffic, and accommodate social distancing.
Auglaize County Board of Elections members voted to use Noble Township Community Center as the polling location for Noble and Salem Township precincts. The Waynesfield-Goshen Auxiliary Gym will be the polling location for the Goshen Township, Wayne Township and Waynesfield precincts. The Waynesfield-Goshen location is pending a rental agreement.
Board members have already seen a huge interest in voting by mail. Director Michelle Wilcox reported more than 2,800 applications requesting an absentee ballot had been received. Absentee voting will begin Oct. 6.
Early voting hours have been established:
* Oct. 6-9 and Oct.
12-16: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
* Oct. 19-23: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
* Oct. 24: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
* Oct. 25: 1-5 p.m. * Oct. 26-30: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
* Oct. 31: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
* Nov. 1: 1-5 p.m. * Nov. 2: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
After months of drumming up support among community members, the board of elections has the staff they need to handle the election. At least 239 poll workers have volunteered to work, not including some youth at the booth workers. The board of elections needed at least 156 and will have additional staff on standby to help out at area polling locations.
Wilcox said some of the younger volunteers have offered to help out in needed areas like curbside voting.
Boardmembers approved $26, 637 in vouchers; some of that money goes toward security costs including some newly installed cameras.
Contested races include County Coroner, with Jason Steinecker (R) running against Ken Fox who filed as a non-partisan.
County Commissioner John Bergman (R) is running for reelection against Duane Stienecker who filed as an independent.
Shannon Freshour (D), incumbent Jim Jordan (R) and Libertarian Steve Perkins are vying for the US Congressional 4th district. Matt Huffman (R) is running for re-election in the 12th Senate district against Ken Poling (D).
Incumbent Craig Riedel is running for re-election in the 82nd district against writein candidate Alecia Wobler.
Incumbent Susan Manchester (R) and Joseph Monbeck (D) are facing off again for the State Representative 84th District.
Battling for the Ohio Supreme Court seats are John O’Donnell (D) and Sharon Kennedy (R) and well as Jennifer Brunner (D) and Judi French (R).
Issues on the ballot include:
* A 1-mill levy renewal for the Auglaize County Council on Aging;
* An additional 2-mil tax levy for Clay Township for Fire and EMS;
* A 1.5-mill replacement tax levy for German Township for fire and EMS;
* A .75-mill renewal for Fire and EMS for Wayne Township;
* A 2-mill renewal for the village of Cridersville for Fire and EMS;
* A 0.6 mill tax levy renewal for Goshen Township for current expenses;
* A 1 mill tax levy for general construction in Logan Township;
* A .3 mill-levy renewal for current expenses for the village of Buckland; and
* A 0.7 mill levy renewal for permanent improvements for Vantage Career Center.