MANSFIELD—The Richland County Board of Elections has announced new polling locations for voters who previously cast their ballots at Berean Baptist Church.
According to a release from the board, these location changes will take effect on Election Day next week and remain in place for future elections.
Voters in Mansfield 1B, Mansfield 1E, Mansfield 1F, and Washington B will cast their ballots at Apostolic Christian Church, 1332 Middle Bellville Road in Mansfield.
Voters in Mansfield 1A, Washington C, and Washington F will vote at New Liberty Baptist Church, 2705 Lexington Ave. in Mansfield.
A release from Director of Dlections Matt Finfgeld and Deputy Director Jane Zimmerman said voters in affected precincts have been mailed a notice of their new polling location.
The pair said the board does not expect to make any other revisions unless an emergency arises.
All other polling locations will be open as usual. To check your polling location, visit the board of elections website at www.boe.ohio.gov/richland.
For more information on these polling place changes, contact the Richland County Board of Elections at 419.774.5530.
Berean Baptist opted out as a polling place in February
Berean Baptist Church, which previously served as a voting place for all seven precincts, announced in February that it would discontinue the service.
“This is not done with any malice,” Berean Baptist Church Lead Pastor Dan Krause told Richland Source.
“We believe it’s important every citizen exercises their right to vote. We value what the (elections board staff and volunteers) do and the effort they make. We pray for our elected leaders.”
The pastor said the church leaders simply decided to use Berean’s space and resources for other ministries.
“Time and space are finite resources. We won’t need to cancel other planned activities on Mondays and Tuesdays (during an election cycle),” Krause said.
Berean Baptist was one of the busiest polling places in the county during the November election, second only to the board of elections office.
The seven precincts — Mansfield 1A, 1B, 1E, and 1F, and Washington Township B, C, and F — accounted for 6,366 ballots in the November 2024 election. Of those, 2,306 voted in person on Election Day.
What’s on the ballot May 6?
Richland County voters have several issues and races to consider at the ballot box on Tuesday.
Mansfield has a 1st ward council primary, with two Republicans and two Democrats vying for a spot on the November ballot.
Voters throughout Mansfield will be asked to renew taxes that fund street repair, parks, streetlights, demolition and emergency services.
All Ohio voters will have the chance to weigh in on Issue 2, a constitutional amendment that allows the state to issue up to $2.5 billion in bonds to pay for infrastructure projects over the next 10 years.
Ontario Republicans will choose which of three mayoral candidates will face Democrat Cody Zeigler in the November general election.
Several renewal levies are also on the ballot, including one for Shelby’s Marvin Memorial Library and one for Lucas Local Schools.
For a full rundown of the issues on the ballot, check out the elections homepage on Richland Source.
