WE’RE GOING LOCAL — LOCAL ELECTIONS, THAT IS!
The Power of Local Elections
On November 4, there are Municipal and School Board elections across our state. We know that everything that’s happening at the state and federal level right now feels overwhelming. But local elections – like we have this year – have a huge impact on our everyday lives. While it’s not as splashy as a presidential election, it’s still just as important! As voters, we get to decide if local levies get passed to help our communities, and who will fill:
- Over 8,000 School Board seats
- City Councils seats
- Township Trustee positions
In 2025 no candidate we vote for is in DC or in Columbus — they are right in our neighborhoods. This is why we say, “When they go low, we go local.” Right now, your power is at the local level and you need to flex those muscles. The candidates on the ballot determine the curriculum in our schools, the books our kids read, when potholes get fixed, and what businesses get approved to open.
Unfortunately, local elections usually don’t get strong voter turnout. When voter turnout is low, sometimes races have been decided by just one or two votes. Really, we’ve seen it happen! That’s why it’s so important for us to vote and to share election information with everyone we know and get them to the polls, too.
Researching local races is hard, so we’ve taken the work out of it for you! Our voting guide gives you the tools to learn who’s running for office, who are the common sense candidates, and who doesn’t align with our values. We’ve done the research — including “intel” from our Red Wine & Blue Troublemakers who live in these communities.
We can make a difference this year by electing candidates who share our values, which will also send a clear message for what we expect from candidates in 2026. So let’s get you ready to vote on November 4!
Ohio School Board Elections
Ohio’s school voucher program has shifted millions of dollars away from public schools to fund tuition payments for private school students, many who were already attending private schools. Taxpayers are funding private school education, and it’s hurting our public schools. Protecting public education and making sure Ohio public schools receive sufficient funding is critical to their survival. We have to vote for candidates that support public education for all children in Ohio.
In addition to funding shortages, our schools are under further attack. But we’re done letting extremists who want to ban books, censor school curriculums, and target families of LGBTQ+ children with political attacks try to control our public education system. It is so important to elect school board members who support public education and who will keep our schools safe and welcoming for all children. You can learn more about some of the critical races below.
Redrawing Ohio’s Legislative Maps
It’s not on the ballot, but we all need to be paying attention to the redrawing of our voting district maps!
Did you know that Ohio is one of the most gerrymandered states in the country? When a district is gerrymandered, it allows politicians to choose their voters instead of the other way around. It takes away power from voters because politicians know they will be re-elected, regardless of their behavior or performance.
Gerrymandering also results in skewed representation, where one party is disproportionately represented in the legislature. In Ohio, Democrats make up 45% of registered voters but only 30% of elected state legislative seats, whereas Republicans make up 55% of registered voters but hold 70% of elected state legislative seats. And our representation at the national level is also skewed. Our 15 U.S. congressional seats are currently held by 5 Democrats and 10 Republicans, even though a fair representation of all voters should be a much closer split. We can’t let this get any worse.
The maps Ohio drew in 2021 were found to be unconstitutional, and we have tried to correct our gerrymandered districts multiple times. We have an opportunity to amend the maps again in 2025. What gets drawn now will hold until 2031. Help us hold Columbus accountable!
Want to learn more about Equal Districts and gerrymandering? Check out this information from our partners, Equal Districts.
Do your homework! Get your Sample ballot
Want to know who and what will be on your ballot? If you want to find out who’s running, the first thing you can do is go to your Board of Elections website in late August and look for your sample ballot.
Make a plan to vote!
Share this information with everyone you know — and don’t forget any young people in your life who turn 18 by Election Day, or college students who are away from home and need an absentee ballot.
Important Voting Dates
Printable Voting Guide
You can print this out, fill it in, and take it with you when you vote!
Frequently Asked Questions about Voting in Ohio
How do I register to vote?
How do I vote absentee?
Here’s how to vote absentee:
- Military and overseas absentee voting starts September 19, 2025.
- Absentee voting by mail begins October 7, 2025.
- Absentee ballot applications must be received by October 28, 2025 by 8:30 pm. You can find the application here.
- Absentee ballots may be returned by mail or personally delivered to your County Board of Elections.
- If returned by mail, it must be postmarked on or before November 3, 2025, and received by November 8, 2025.
- If not returned by mail, it must be received by November 4, 2025 by 7:30 pm.
- Drop boxes are only available at your County Board of Elections office.
Can I vote early?
Yes, early in-person voting begins October 7, 2025 and includes two weekends of early voting before Election Day. Hours vary by week and day so make sure you visit the Ohio state voting page for more information on early voting hours and locations near you.
Who’s on the Ballot?
We need to elect common sense candidates who reflect our values — in every race on our ballot. That means voting all the way down the ballot and voting for school board members who will stand up against the loud, extremist minority causing chaos in our schools.
You can find information below about candidates in key local races across the state.
Candidates with a green check mark next to their name have proven that they are aligned with Red Wine & Blue’s values, including protecting democracy, supporting the LGBTQ+ community, protecting reproductive rights, and providing economic security.
Candidates with a red “x” next to their name are endorsed by extremist groups, have expressed support for extremist policies like abortion bans and book bans, or have otherwise proven that they are not aligned with Red Wine & Blue’s values.
Candidates with a yellow caution symbol next to their name have uncertain political ties or values.
Candidates with a gray question mark next to their name lack enough publicly available information to make an assessment.
Note: Not all Ohio races are included in this list. Red Wine & Blue is working on the ground in these key races where we have the most ability to impact the outcome of the election.
State-Wide Elections
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Can we count on you?
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