Check your polling location

TIFFIN - Voters heading to the polls for the May 5 Primary Election will want to double-check their polling location before Election Day, as several Seneca County precincts have been permanently reassigned to new sites. The Seneca County Board of Elections has confirmed a handful of new permanent polling locations for the 2026 election cycle. According to BOE Director Lori Elchert, a postcard was mailed to all affected voters notifying them of their new location and address. New Polling Locations for 2026 Trinity United Church of Christ (131 E. Perry Street, Tiffin): Voters should enter from the rear parking lot off Jefferson Street. This location now serves precincts T1A (formerly First Presbyterian Church), T1B (formerly Tiffin Seneca Public Library) and Tiffin 4D (formerly United Baptist Church). Ebenezer Community Church (7500 N CR 29, Flat Rock): Thompson Township voters previously assigned to Zion Church and Rodger Young VFW Hall will now vote here. Several other consolidated polling sites, established for the 2025 General Election, remain in effect: • Fostoria Learning Center (342 Perry St., Fostoria): Serves precincts Fostoria 1-B, Fostoria 3-A, Fostoria 3-B and Fostoria 4-A, all formerly at Geary Family YMCA or the fire station. • UAW Hall 2021 (1675 N. Union Street): Serves Jackson Township and Fostoria 1-A. • Hopewell Loudon School old gymnasium (290 S. CR 7, Tiffin, across from the football field): Serves Hopewell B, Hopewell C, Loudon North and Loudon South, formerly split between the Bascom Fire Station and Loudon Township House. • Seneca County Department of Job and Family Services (900 CR 20, Tiffin): Voters should not enter from the front; follow the drive around to the rear of the building. Serves Eden North, Eden South, Clinton C and Clinton E. • Rodger Young VFW Hall (5912 CR 44, Green Springs): Continues to serve Green Springs Village and Adams Township. Note that Thompson Township has been moved from this location to Ebenezer Community Church. Voters can look up their specific polling location at the BOE's online tool at https://lookup.boe.ohio.gov/vtrapp/seneca/pollfinder.aspx by selecting "Candidate and voter tools" and clicking "Polling place search." What's on the Ballot The May 5 primary features contested races across all three major parties. Democratic voters will weigh in on races including a U.S. Senate contest between Sherrod Brown and Ron Kincaid, a four-way 5th District U.S. Representative race and a gubernatorial ticket featuring Amy Acton and David Pepper. Attorney General, Secretary of State and Ohio Supreme Court seats are also contested. On the Republican side, three tickets are vying for Governor and Lt. Governor: Heather Hill/Stuart Moats, Casey Putsch/Kimberly C. Georgeton and Vivek Ramaswamy/Robert A. McColley. Republican voters will also decide the 88th District State Representative race between Gary Click and Eric Watson, multiple Ohio Supreme Court seats and local races including County Commissioner (Jim Distel vs. Bill Frankart) and County Auditor. Libertarian voters should be aware that U.S. Senate candidate Jeffrey Kanter has been disqualified following a successful protest. While his name may still appear on printed ballots, any votes cast for him will not be counted. William B. Redpath is now the sole certified Libertarian candidate for that seat. Local issues include a Liberty Township Fire Levy, a five-year, 0.75-mill additional levy for fire and EMS services affecting Liberty Township and Bettsville Village residents, and a Sunday beer sales liquor option for Fostoria precinct 3B. Early Voting and Key Deadlines Early in-person voting is available exclusively at the Board of Elections office at 71 S. Washington St., Suite 1101, in Tiffin. Remaining early voting hours are: • 7:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. April 27 • 7:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m. April 28 • 7:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. April 29-May 1 • 8 a.m.-4 p.m. May 2 • 1-5 p.m. May 3 Absentee ballot requests must be submitted on Form 11-A (prescribed 01/2026) and delivered by mail, drop box or in person. Email, fax and scanned copies are no longer accepted under Ohio law. The deadline for the BOE to receive absentee applications is 8:30 p.m. on the final day before the election. Election Day, May 5, polls will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Every voter must present a valid photo ID such as an unexpired Ohio driver's license, a U.S. passport or a military ID card. An Ohio license with a former address remains valid as long as the voter's current address is updated in the official pollbook. Absentee ballots cannot be dropped off at polling locations; they must be received at the BOE office by 7:30 p.m. Election Day to be counted. For questions, contact the Seneca County Board of Elections at 419-447-4424, seneca@OhioSoS.gov or www.boe.ohio.gov/seneca/.