Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 5, and there's a lot to decide on across the Tri-State of Southwest Ohio, Northern Kentucky, and Eastern Indiana.
In addition to voting in-person on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 5, Tri-Staters can also cast their ballots early or absentee. Here are some dates you need to know:
- In Ohio: Absentee and early in-person voting begins Tuesday, Oct. 8 and includes the two Saturdays and the two Sundays before Election Day. Find your polling place. If you are an Ohio voter who is disabled and have questions or need assistance with your ballot during early voting or on Election Day, call Disability Rights Ohio at 800-282-9181 while polls are open.
- In Kentucky: In-person, excused absentee voting takes place Oct. 23, 24, 25, and Oct. 28, 29, 30. Early in-person, no-excuse absentee voting will take place Thursday, Oct. 31, Friday, Nov. 1, and Saturday, Nov. 2. Find your polling place.
- In Indiana: Early voting begins Tuesday, Oct. 8, to noon Monday, Nov. 4. Find your polling place.
How this guide was created
WVXU journalists and editors reached out to the various candidates to answer short surveys about issues relevant to the office they are seeking. Many responded; others didn't. In such cases, we've linked to the candidate's campaign website, where available.
WVXU is a small but mighty team. Even so, we can't cover everything and reach out to every candidate currently seeking office in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. So, in some cases we relied on our public media partners doing similar great work leading up to Election Day.
Ready to get started?
Click on the links below to jump to your state:
Ohio
Hamilton County | Issue 1 | Ohio Supreme Court | U.S. Senate | U.S. House Districts
What's on your ballot? Search by your address on the Ohio Secretary of State's website.
Hamilton County
Auditor
- Tom Brinkman (R, did not respond though he did participate in an episode of Cincinnati Edition; no website)
- Jessica Miranda (D)
Clerk of Courts
- Pavan Parikh (D, incumbent)
- Mary Hill (R; did not respond)
- Andrew Olding (L; did not respond, no website)
Commission
For term commencing Jan. 2, 2025:
- Kyle Duper (L; did not respond)
- Jonathan Pearson (R)
- Alicia Reece (D, incumbent)
For term commencing Jan. 3, 2025:
- Denise Driehaus (D, incumbent)
- Adam Koehler (R)
- Leandro Llambi (L)
Coroner
- Lakshmi Sammarco (D, incumbent, running unopposed)
Engineer
- Eric Beck (R, running unopposed)
Prosecutor
- Connie Pillich (D)
- Melissa Powers (R)
Sheriff
- Charmaine McGuffey (D, incumbent)
- Jim Neil (R)
Recorder
- Scott Crowley (D)
- David Heimbach (R)
Treasurer
- Jeff Baker (R)
- Jill Schiller (D, incumbent)
Listen to candidates for Hamilton County auditor and treasurer talk property taxes on Cincinnati Edition.
Court of Appeals and Common Pleas
There are several races for the Hamilton County's 1st District Court of Appeals and Court of Common Pleas. You can learn about the candidates on Vote411.org by entering your address.
Hamilton County Tax Levies
- The Hamilton County Tax Levy Review Committee is recommending the Developmental Disability Services (34) and Family Services and Treatment (35) levies be renewed at their current rates. The renewals won't increase taxes and will fund the two programs through 2029. Learn more at this link.
School levies and bond issues
- Mt. Healthy school levy
- Mariemont school levy
- Princeton school levy
- Wyoming bond issue
- Monroe bond issue
- Milford earned income tax
Issue 1
Issue 1 would create a 15-member panel made up of Republican, Democratic and independent citizens to draw lawmakers' district maps based on a proportionality formula that corresponds closely with the results of the last six statewide elections. Current and former elected officials and politicians could not serve on the panel.
A "yes" vote would support the amendment; a "no" vote will leave the current system in place.
Ohio Supreme Court
- Michael P. Donnelly (incumbent) v. Megan Shanahan
- Melody Stewart (incumbent) v. Joseph Deters
- Lisa Forbes (incumbent) v. Dan Hawkins
U.S. Senate
- Sherrod Brown (D, incumbent)
- Bernie Moreno (R)
House Districts
District 1
- Greg Landsman (D, incumbent)
- Orlando Sonza (R)
District 2
- Samantha Meadows (D)
- David Taylor (R; did not respond)
District 8
- Warren Davidson (R, incumbent; did not respond)
- Vanessa Enoch (D)
State Representative 26th District
- John Breadon (R, no website)
- Sedrick Denson (D, incumbent)
Kentucky
U.S. House Districts | Covington | Newport | Medical Marijuana | School Choice
What's on your ballot? Search by your address on the Kentucky Secretary of State's website.
U.S. House Districts
4th Congressional District
- Thomas Massie (R, incumbent, running unopposed)
House District 67
- Terry Hatton (R)
- Matthew Lehman (D)
Local Northern Kentucky races
All races are nonpartisan so no party affiliations are listed.
Covington
The "Public Question" on the ballot
In September, an effort to change Covington from a city manager to council-mayor (sometimes called "strong mayor") form of government gathered enough valid signatures to appear on the November ballot.
Mayor
- Ron Washington (unopposed)
Commission
- Tim Acri
- Bradie Bowen
- Tim Downing
- Cari McMurty Garriga
- Shannon C. Smith (did not respond)
- James Toebbe (did not respond)
- Bill Wells
- Aaron Wolpert
Watch a recording of the Covington Commission candidate forum that took place Oct. 3.
Newport
Mayor
- Thomas L. Guidugli (unopposed; no website)
Commission
Medical marijuana
Despite the legalization of medical marijuana in Kentucky beginning in 2025, counties and cities around the state can determine whether they want to welcome marijuana production facilities and dispensaries into their communities.
This article can catch you up on which Northern Kentucky counties and cities have decided whether to put the issue to voters in November.
School choice
Kentuckians will decide whether to approve Amendment 2 (PDF), a school choice ballot measure that would amend the state's constitution and allow lawmakers to pass bills to fund private and charter schools with taxpayer dollars.
Indiana
U.S. Senate | U.S. House | Governor | Lt. Governor | Attorney General | Indiana Supreme Court
What's on your ballot? Search by your address on the Indiana Secretary of State's website.
U.S. Senate
- Jim Banks (R)
- Andy Horning (L)
- Valerie McCray (D)
U.S. House
District 9 (Dearborn, Franklin counties)
- Russell Brooksbank (L)
- Erin Houchin (R)
- Timothy Peck (D)
Governor
- Mike Braun (R)
- Jennifer McCormick (D)
- Donald Rainwater (L)
- Christopher Stried (I)
Lt. Governor
- Micah Beckwith (R)
- Terry Goodin (D)
- Tonya Hudson (L)
Attorney General
- Todd Rokita (R, incumbent)
- Destine Scott Wells (D)
Indiana Supreme Court
Public Question #1
The proposed amendemnt to Indiana's Constitution reads:
"Shall the Constitution of the State of Indiana be amended to remove the state superintendent of public instruction from the list of officeholders who shall discharge the powers and duties of the governor if the office of the governor and lieutenant governor are both vacant?"
Remove Superintendent of Public Instruction from Gubernatorial Line of Succession Amendment (PDF)
- Read more on how the constitutional amendment on Indiana's ballot changes gubernatorial line of succession.