01-05-2025
Board of Elections expecting light turnout for May election
ZANESVILLE ‒ Lindsay Peadon, director of the Muskingum County Board of Elections, does not anticipate a large turnout for the May 6 primary, which features tax issues but no candidates.
"We currently have 1% of voter turnout for early voting," she told the Times Recorder on April 30. "We are not expecting the polls to be busy."
As of April 30, 307 absentee ballots had been sent out. Of those, 186 have been returned. The deadline to apply for an absentee ballot was April 29. If not returned by mail, absentee ballots must be returned in the BOE's drop box by 7:30 p.m. May 6. If returning by mail, they must be postmarked by May 5.
There have been 326 early in-person voters, as of April 30.
There are two school district levies are on the ballot.
The Franklin Local School District is asking voters to approve a five-year, 2-mill levy renewal for permanent school improvements commencing in 2025 and due in 2026. It generates $652,000 a year, which is helped by pipelines in the district. The renewal will cost the owner of a $100,000 home $12.54 a year.
The River View Local School District is looking to pass a five-year, 1.8-mill operating levy renewal. The levy could collect around $425,000 annually, through a Muskingum County auditor estimation, for permanent school improvements. At 1.8 mills, the levy would collect around $20 per $100,000 of appraised property value. A small portion of the district overlaps into Muskingum County.
Two townships will have levy renewals on the ballot.
Perry Township's 5 years and 3 mill renewal is for fire and EMS services.
Springfield Road District's 5 year and 2 mills renewal is for construction, resurfacing and repair of streets, roads, and bridges.
Voters statewide are being asked to approve a bond issue that would allow the state to issue up to $2.5 billion in general obligation bonds or $250 million annually over 10 years. This money can be spent on roads and bridges, waste water treatment systems, water supply systems, solid waste disposal facilities, storm water and sanitary collection, storage and treatment facilities.
There is still time to take advantage of in-person early voting at the board of elections.
Hours are 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. May 2, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 3 and 1 to 5 p.m. May 4. There are no early voting hours on May 5.
Election Day on May 6 has hours from 6:30 7:30 p.m.
The board is located at 627 Market St.
All polling places in Muskingum County will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Election Day. Residents will need state- or federally issued photo identification to vote.
This article originally appeared on Zanesville Times Recorder: Voter turnout expected to be light for May election
