Yes, there’s an August election for some Ohioans. Here are the details.

With the primary election over with, voters are looking ahead to the high-profile presidential election this November.

But not so fast. There will actually be an Aug. 4 special election held in a select number of communities around Ohio. These involve school districts, fire departments and in one case funding the expenses for a local senior center. 

The vast majority of Ohioans have nothing to vote on, and therefore no election will be held. But certain (though not all) voters in Cuyahoga, Darke, Fairfield, Fayette, Hamilton, Hancock, Montgomery, Shelby, Summit and Wood counties will have something on their ballots.

The voter registration deadline to cast a ballot for the special election is Monday, July 6. Voters can register online by clicking here, or they can fill out a voter registration form at their county’s board of elections office. (Forms are also available at public libraries, schools and Bureau of Motor Vehicles offices, among other places.) 

Voters who need to update their voter registration (for example, a new address) need to do so also by July 6 in order to be eligible to vote in the August special election. Registrations can be updated online by clicking here or by contacting your county’s board of elections office. 

Voting information

As with other elections, there will be plenty of time to vote early in person or vote by mail ahead of the Aug. 4 special election.

For absentee (mail) ballots: Voters have to first request an absentee ballot form, which is now available. The deadline to request an absentee ballot by mail is noon on Saturday, Aug. 1.

For early in-person voting: This begins on Tuesday, July 7 and runs through Monday, Aug. 3. You can find the full calendar by clicking here. 

Election Day voting: There will be in-person voting available on Election Day. In most counties, the normal polling locations will be open. An exception is in Wood County, which is consolidating all of its Aug. 4 voting to one location.

What’s on the ballot?

The Ohio Secretary of State’s website has a full list of “Local Questions and Issues” for the Aug. 4 special election available in a downloadable spreadsheet. 

For more specific details on your ballot and where/how to vote, contact your county’s board of elections office.

Here are some basic details:

• Cuyahoga County — The City of Maple Heights has a renewal tax levy to fund operations of the local Senior Center. 
• Darke County — The Ansonia Local School District has a renewal income tax levy to fund current expenses. 
• Fairfield County — The Village of Lithopolis has a new income tax levy to fund “public safety, capital projects, acquire public parklands and additional police protection.”
• Fayette County — The Washington Court House City School District has a new income tax levy to fund current expenses.
• Hamilton County — The City of Mt. Healthy has a new tax levy to fund fire, EMS and equipment; The Village of St. Bernard has a renewal tax levy to fund current expenses. 
• Hancock County — The Findlay City School District has a new tax levy to fund operating current operating expenses. 
• Montgomery County — Clay Township has a renewal tax levy to fund fire and EMS.
• Shelby County — The Sidney City School District has a new tax levy to “avoid an operating deficit.”
• Summit County — The Springfield Local School District has a new tax levy for “emergency requirements.”
• Wood County — The Bowling Green City School District has eight referendums/initiatives to transfer territory from the school district to a number of other school districts.