Richland County Board of Elections director answers questions about primary election

With the primary coming up March 19, Matt Finfgeld wanted to answer some frequently asked questions.

Finfgeld, director of the Richland County Board of Elections, said the main one deals with party affiliation.

"It's always a question that comes up throughout the year," he said. "We have people call or come in and ask, 'Hey, how do I change my party?'''

Under Ohio law, an elector affiliates with a political party by voting in that party's primary election.

"You can request any type of ballot, but that will change your party affiliation," Finfgeld said.

He said what most people don't realize is they can't change their party again until the next primary.

"That could be at least until next year. It might be 2026," Finfgeld said. "Come 2025, there will be a lot of areas (in Richland County) that won't have a primary. If you're not in the city of Mansfield or the city of Ontario, you're probably not going to have a primary."

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Finfgeld also hears about people who want to be independent. In Ohio, the term is unaffiliated.

"There is no true independent party in the state of Ohio," he said. "If you're unaffiliated, you have to pull an issues-only ballot or you wouldn't be able to vote. I hate to tell anyone that, but it's the truth."

Early voting has been light in Richland County

As for early voting, Finfgeld said it's been "slow, really slow."

"I thought it would be higher," he said.

In the first 12 days of early voting, in fact, Finfgeld said Richland County had seen less than half the in-person voters who turned out for the August special election.

"You've got a presidential primary, and we're not getting as many votes as we got in August? That's amazing," he said. "Hopefully it will pick up."

Finfgeld is hoping for a 25% voter turnout. It was at 3% as of Friday.

Richland County has several contested primaries. Chief among them is the race for sheriff, where incumbent Steve Sheldon is facing former sheriff's administrators Matt Mayer and Donald Zehner. No Democrat filed.

County Commissioner Tony Vero is being challenged by David Morgenstern in the Republican primary. No Democrats filed.

Voters also will consider Republican candidates Matt Dolan, Frank LaRose and Bernie Moreno, who are vying to take on Democratic incumbent Sherrod Brown in the race for U.S. Senate.

In the 4th Congressional District, Democrats Steve Thomas and Tamie Wilson are hoping to challenge Republican incumbent Jim Jordan.

Mansfield voters will once again consider a 0.25% income tax to replace water mains, and Lexington voters will consider a 6.4-mill, 10-year renewal levy.

The final day to request a mail-in ballot is Tuesday. The board of elections will be open until 8:30 that night.

mcaudill@gannett.com

419-521-7219

X: @MarkCau32059251

This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Richland County OH Board of Elections gearing up for March 19 primary