Politics & Government

Voter guide for the 2025 general election in Columbus, Central Ohio

WOSU 89.7 NPR News | By Jared Clayton Brown

Published October 7, 2025 at 5:00 AM EDT

Voting machines during the 2022 election.

Early voting begins Tuesday, October 6 for the November 4 general election. WOSU has put together a guide to help voters navigate the polls and their ballots.

In-person early voting:

Franklin County Board of Elections
1700 Morse Road
Columbus, Ohio 4322

A complete list of early voting centers throughout the state is available through the Ohio Secretary of State's website.

Key dates:
October 7-10: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
October 14-17: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
October 20-24: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
October 27: 7 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.
October 28 (Last Day to Request Absentee Ballots): 7:30 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.
October 29-31: 7:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.
November 1: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
November 2: 1 - 5 p.m.

Absentee Voting:

Absentee voting by mail begins on October 7.
Mailed absentee ballots must be postmarked by November 3.
Absentee ballots may be returned by mail or personally delivered to your county board of elections. If not returned by mail, absentee ballots must be received by your board of elections by 7:30 p.m. on November 4.

Do I Need Voter ID?

The following are all the types of valid photo identification:

Ohio driver's license
State of Ohio ID card
Interim ID form issued by the Ohio BMV
A U.S. passport
A U.S. passport card
U.S. military ID card
Ohio National Guard ID card
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs ID card

All photo IDs must have the following:

An expiration date that has not passed
A photograph of the voter
The voter’s name, which must substantially conform to the voter’s name as it appears in the Poll List or in the Poll Book

Check the entire list of acceptable IDs here.

If you do not bring an acceptable form of ID, or if your eligibility is in question because you moved or changed your name, but didn't update your registration, you can still vote using a provisional ballot.

Voting provisionally simply means that election officials need to double-check your eligibility. To do so, you must visit the Board of Elections within four days after Election Day to provide that identification, so your vote can be counted in the final election totals. Election officials are also required to attempt to contact voters by mail, phone or email to resolve any issues with their ballots.

Major races

Columbus City Council — District 7

Tiara Ross and Jesse Vogel are running for the Columbus City Council representing District 7.

District 7 covers much of downtown Columbus and its surrounding neighborhoods. The candidate must live within the district's boundaries, but the entire city gets to vote for the seat.

Candidates:

Tiara Ross

Ross is an assistant city attorney with the Columbus City Attorney Property Action Team.
Key issues Ross is campaigning on include expanded investment in community-based violence prevention programs, prioritizing transparency and ethical leadership in every corner of city government and championing policies that promote racial and economic equity in every city initiative.
She has received endorsements from several unions, including the Central Ohio AFL-CIO, the Columbus Firefighters Union, the Columbus/Central Ohio Building and Trades Council, the Ohio Association of Public School Employees and the Ohio Nurses Association.

Jesse Vogel

Vogel is an immigration attorney in Columbus.
Key issues Vogel is campaigning on include expanding the right to counsel in eviction court, providing property tax relief to residents who cannot afford the recent property tax increase and supporting fare-free bus service.
He has been endorsed by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 8.

Additional Coverage from WOSU:

Upcoming Candidate Forums

There are two final candidate forums where voters can hear from Vogel and Ross before heading to the polls.

League of Women Voters of Metropolitan Columbus candidate forum

Where: Broad Street Presbyterian Church, 760 E Broad St, Columbus, Ohio, 43205.
When: Tuesday, October 7 at 6 p.m.

Downtown Alliance for Voter Engagement candidate forum, moderated by WOSU's Amy Juravich, host of All Sides

Where: Seventh Son Brewing Company, 1101 N. 4th St., Columbus, OH 43201
When: Wednesday, October 8 at 6 p.m.

Columbus City School Board

There are six candidates on the November ballot for the Columbus City Schools Board:

Top (l-r): Patrick Katzenmeyer, Jermaine Kennedy, Janeece Keyes. Bottom (l-r): Mounir Lynch, Kimberly Mason, Antoinette Miranda.

Patrick Katzenmeyer
Jermaine Kennedy
Janeece Keyes
Mounir Lynch
Kimberly Mason
Antoinette Miranda

Additional Coverage from WOSU:

The CCS board candidates have one remaining forum ahead of Election Day.

Columbus Dispatch candidate debate

Where: Columbus Metropolitan Library Main Branch, 96 S. Grant Ave., 43215
When: Tuesday, October 21, 2025 at 6 p.m.

Ballot Issues

Franklin County ADAMH — Proposed Tax Levy (Renewal and Increase)

Purpose: Operation of mental health, alcohol and drug addiction programs for children, adults and families, including residential and outpatient treatment programs, school and community based prevention programs and patient housing.
Rate: Renew 2.85 mills, increase 0.5 mills, total 3.35 mills, $74 for each $100,000 of the county auditor's appraised value, for 10 years, commencing in 2026.

Franklin County — Proposed Tax Levy (Renewal)

Purpose: Provision and maintenance of zoological park services and facilities
Rate: 0.75 mill, $13 for each $100,000 of the county auditor's appraised value, for 10 years, commencing in 2025.