Local Elections

MANSFIELD -- The Mansfield Peace Coalition, in partnership with the Mansfield NAACP voter registration committee, will host a voter registration drive Saturday from 2 to 5 p.m.

A new law signed by Gov. Mike DeWine all but guarantees there will be in-person voting available Nov. 3. Will there be enough poll workers?

With about seven weeks before Election Day, the Richland County Board of Elections has processed about 573 percent more absentee ballot requests than at the same time in 2016.

Robert Cupp, the newly installed speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives, told Richland County Republicans on Monday he will "empower" state lawmakers.

New Ohio House of Representatives Speaker Robert Cupp will speak Monday during the monthly Richland County Republican Party luncheon.

The Richland County Board of Elections has already processed 8,500 requests for absentee, mail-in ballots for the Nov. 3 general election, according to Director Paulette Hankins.

Absentee ballot request forms are arriving in mailboxes this week for the Nov. 3 general election, Secretary of State Frank LaRose announced.

MANSFIELD -- The Richland County Board of Elections has announced several polling locations for the Nov. 3 election in response to COVID-19 concerns.

State Rep. Mark Romanchuk and Senate President Larry Obhof will lead a Trump Rally on Tuesday at 2 p.m. at PR Machine Works.

The Richland County Democratic Party on Thursday honored two local residents during a small reception at the party headquarters.

The Accountancy Board of Ohio will allow Ohio Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) to obtain required continuing public education general credits for CPAs who serve as poll workers in 2020. 

Trump vs. Biden get the headlines. But Richland County voters have many other important election decisions to make Nov. 3.

EDITOR'S NOTE: This story was provided to Richland Source by Your Voice Ohio through a collaborative agreement. This is the last in a five-part series on Ohio voters and the election. Part I was Monday. Part II was Tuesday. Part III was Wednesday. Part IV was Thursday.

EDITOR'S NOTE: This story was provided to Richland Source by Your Voice Ohio through a collaborative agreement. This is the fourth in a five-part on Ohio voters and the election. Part I was Monday. Part II was Tuesday. Part III was Wednesday.

EDITOR'S NOTE: This story was provided to Richland Source by Your Voice Ohio through a collaborative agreement. This is the third in a five-part series on Ohio voters and the election. Part I was Monday. Part II was Tuesday.

EDITOR'S NOTE: This story was provided to Richland Source by Your Voice Ohio through a collaborative agreement. This is the second in a five-part series on Ohio voters and the election. Part I was Monday.

President Trump will be about 55 miles away from Mansfield on Thursday when he visits the Whirlpool factory in Clyde.

EDITOR'S NOTE: This story was provided to Richland Source by Your Voice Ohio through a collaborative agreement. This is the first in a five-part series on Ohio voters and the election.

Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose on Thursday ordered the Greene County Board of Elections to reject non-citizen voter registrations and put measures in place ensuring only citizens are allowed to vote Nov. 3.

The Ohio Supreme Court issued an order Wednesday allowing attorneys to receive required continuing legal education credit for serving as precinct election officials on Nov. 3.

Richland County Commissioner Marilyn John, the Republican nominee to represent the county in the Ohio House, said Tuesday night she will return a $13,292.35 donation from Friends of Larry Householder, the House speaker's campaign committee.

The country's founding fathers were imperfect, but they created a set of principles that set the stage for freedoms unequaled in the world, an Ashland University professor told Richland County Republicans on Monday.

MANSFIELD -- The Richland County Democratic Party on Monday issued a statement saying it is not affiliated with Sam Grady, who won the party's primary for the Ohio House 2nd District seat.

Matt Finfgeld was elected Thursday evening to his fourth term as chair of the Richland County Democratic Party Central Committee.

The Shelby Area Democratic Club conducted an electronic meeting on May 21,  the organization’s first meeting during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

MANSFIELD -- The Richland County Democratic Party Central Committee will re-organize during an online meeting May 28 at 7 p.m., according to Matt Finfgeld, current Central Committee chairman

It took a couple of months longer than she anticipated, but Kirsten Pscholka-Gartner has won the Democratic Party nomination for Richland County Probate Court Judge.

The Richland County Board of Elections on Tuesday approved an additional 897 ballots from the 2020 primary election.

Ontario resident Mark Romanchuk, who has represented Richland County in the Ohio House for the last eight years, on Tuesday won the Republican primary for the Ohio Senate's 22nd District.

MANSFIELD -- The longest, oddest election cycle in Ohio history came to an end on Tuesday with strong performances by two Richland County Republican county commissioners and a Democratic Party race for probate court judge that is too close to call.

The longest-running primary election in Ohio's history appears to be wheezing its way to the finish line Tuesday.

Republicans Marilyn John and Nathan Martin, and Democrats Carline Curry and Sam Grady, will appear on the March 17 primary ballot in the race for the Ohio House 2nd District seat, representing Richland County.

Bellville Mayor Teri Brenkus said the five-year, 3-mill renewal levy will help fund expenses for the village such as street lighting, park expenses and maintenance in the village hall.

Challenger David Morgenstern is taking on incumbent Tony Vero in the March 17 primary election for Richland County commissioner.

(Editor's note: This story was initially published March 9 in anticipation of the March 17 in-person primary election, which was extended until April 28 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. There will be no additional in-person voting.

The coronavirus impact on politics continues to be felt in Richland County.

Local political candidates have had to revamp strategies after in-person voting for the 2020 Ohio primary was halted and the absentee-only strategy was adopted with a deadline of April 28.

COLUMBUS – Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose on Thursday released the postcard the state's voters will soon receive as part of the effort to complete the 2020 Ohio primary election.

MANSFIELD -- Absentee voting has resumed for the primary election and will be conducted by mail only, according to Paulette Hankins, director of the Richland County Board of Elections.

As it turns out, the Ohio General Assembly still picks election days in the state, not the Secretary of State.

Mayor Tim Theaker said his administration, which had a department head planning meeting Friday morning, is working to be preventative and proactive with regard to coronavirus.

MANSFIELD -- Richland County Probate Court judge candidate Joe Jerger criticized his opponent's lack of probate court experience on Wednesday.

A veteran state lawmaker, a mayor and two new faces to politics face off Tuesday in the Republican primary to for the 22nd Ohio Senate District.

MANSFIELD -- On March 17, two Democratic candidates will compete in the party’s primary election for Richland County probate judge.

Kirsten Pscholka-Gartner said Wednesday her work as a magistrate in Richland County Domestic Relations Court has prepared her to lead the county's Probate Court.

Richland County Commissioner Tony Vero offered a positive "by-the-numbers" report Monday during the local Republican Party's monthly luncheon.

Absentee/early voting for the March 17 primary begins Wednesday, either by mail or in person at the Richland County Board of Elections, 1495 W. Longview Ave., in the lower level classroom.

Local attorney Kelly Badnell has officially announced her candidacy for Richland County Probate Court judge.

Domestic Relations Court Magistrate Kirsten Pscholka-Gartner has announced she is a candidate in the March 17 Democratic primary for Richland County Probate Court Judge.