ATHENS, Ohio — During a Wednesday meeting, the Athens County Board of Elections approved nearly 30 ballot measures for November’s general election.
The board also decided to move Nelsonville and Buchtel’s polling location to Nelsonville-York High School. The previous location, the county-owned Athens County Cares Community Resource Center, is up for sale.
The 2026 general election is Tuesday, Nov. 3. The deadline to register to vote in the general election is Monday, Oct. 6. Early in-person voting begins the next day, Tuesday, Oct. 7.
Options
Three local liquor options will go before Athens County voters this fall.
Gateway LLC, dba The Mine Tavern in Nelsonville, seeks an option for the Sunday sale of wine and mixed beverages and spirituous liquor, on/off premises, at 14 Public Square, Nelsonville. Nelsonville Precinct 2 voters will decide on the option.
Lodi Township voters will vote on two options for the same business, which is currently under construction. Big 33 LLC, at 12100 Pleasanton Road, is seeking a license to sell beer, wine and mixed beverages, as well as an option for Sunday sale of beer, wine and mixed beverages.
Issues
The board also approved 26 tax issues for the general election. Find a comprehensive list of issues — and generate a sample ballot — via the board of elections’ website.
Two school districts have income tax issues on the ballot:
- Alexander Local School District is trying again to get voters to pass an additional income tax for current expenses. This time, the district seeks a 0.75% income tax lasting for five years, beginning Jan. 1, 2027. District voters rejected income tax proposals in 2024 and 2023, although at a higher rate of 1%.
- Athens City School District voters will decide whether to renew a 1% income tax for current operating expenses that would begin collection Jan. 1, 2029.
Proposed additional property taxes on the ballot include:
- Athens County: 1 mill, 10 years, beginning this year, first due in 2027. This tax supports the maintenance and operation of the Athens City-County Health Department.
- Albany (village): 3 mills, 5 years, beginning this year and first due in 2027. This tax supports street maintenance.
- Buchtel (village): 5 mills, 5 years, beginning this year, first due in 2027, to support current expenses.
- Carthage Township: 3 mills, 5 years, beginning next year, first due in 2028. This tax supports the “general construction, reconstructing, resurfacing, and repair of streets, roads, and bridges.”
- Carthage Township: 0.6 mills, 5 years, beginning next year, first due in 2028. This tax supports the maintenance of township cemeteries.
- Troy Township: 2 mills, 5 years, beginning this year and due in 2027. This tax is for road maintenance as well.
- York Township: 1 mill, 5 years, beginning this year and first due in 2027. This tax is for the maintenance of cemeteries.
Rejected questions and issues
The board voted 3-1 to reject a proposed referendum from Nelsonville that would have placed before voters an ordinance that Nelsonville City Council passed in October 2025. The ordinance established a storm sewer fee and created a storm sewer line item for the city budget.
Nelsonville currently has two opposing governments. The statutory government was created by the passage of Issue 23 in November 2024; its members took office Jan. 1, 2026. In August 2025, the existing city council, operating under the charter, repealed Issue 23. The two councils have been convening since the beginning of the year, each claiming rightful authority over city government. No court has yet ruled on which council should be in charge.
The statutory city council has repealed most of the ordinances passed by the charter council operating out of city hall. However, the statutory council opted to put the sewer fee ordinance on the ballot for voters to consider.
The statutory council submitted their own clerk’s certification in July, as required by the city charter — even though their offices were created by a referendum abolishing the city charter.
Board of elections member Gary Van Meter, a Republican, voted in favor of placing the referendum before voters.
The rest of the board voted in accordance with legal advice from Athens County Prosecutor’s Office Assistant Prosecutor T.L. Warren. He said that because the initiative addresses appropriations, it cannot be voted upon under Nelsonville City Charter statutes, nor Ohio Revised Code.
Board Director Tony Brooks said the statutory council also did not provide an ordinance in favor of placing the initiative before voters, as required by the city charter.
The board also rejected two property tax renewals. Both The Plains and Richland fire districts withdrew their proposals, intending to pursue them next year.
The Athens County Board of Elections next regular board meeting will be at 3:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 21 at the board office, 15 S. Court St. #130, Athens.
