An American flag blows in the wind as voters exit the Belpre High School gymnasium after casting their ballots Tuesday. (Photo by Evan Bevins)

Registered Ohio voters headed to their polling locations to vote in the primaries on Election Day Tuesday. For more information on up-to-date election results visit mariettatimes.com or find the results in Thursday’s print edition.

Washington County Board of Elections Director Mandy Amos said the day had gone smoothly, and reported there were no issues with the process.

“We had more early voters than usual,” she said.

Amos said in May 2022 there were about 1,600 early voters and the number doubled this year with more than 3,200 voting between April 7 and May 3.

“My guess is that there’s a lot of interest in the two county-wide levies and the Republican primaries for the commission seat,” said Amos.

Washington County residents present their state IDs before casting their ballots on Election Day at the Washington County Fairgrounds poll location Tuesday. (Photo by Amber Phipps)

The polls closed at 7:30 p.m. with absentee ballots counted and finalized around 7:45 p.m.

Amos said the last precinct was expected to be in around 9 p.m.

Notable issues on the ballot included incumbent Washington County Commissioner Eddie Place challenged by former Fort Frye Local Board of Education member Stephanie Lang in the Republican primary; a levy for the Washington County Board of Developmental Disabilities; and a renewal levy for the Washington County Public Library.

Board of Elections poll location manager at the Washington County Fairgrounds Julie Williams said voter attendance was slow in the morning when they opened at 6:30 a.m. but steadied throughout the day.

“It’s been pretty busy in the afternoon once everyone is off work,” she said. “It was slow in the morning and it started picking up around 10 a.m. and it’s been steady since.”

Washington County residents cast their ballots at the Washington County Fairgrounds poll location Tuesday evening. (Photo by Amber Phipps)

Williams said the poll volunteers double-check signatures to make sure voter information is correct to eliminate potential issues.

According to Williams, by 5:30 p.m. there were around 1,600 ballots cast at the fairgrounds with two hours remaining. Those evening hours are the busiest for poll locations as the majority of people get off work for the day and vote before heading home.

Amber Phipps can be reached at aphipps@newsandsentinel.com

County ballot candidates and levies:

Republican

*For Representative to Congress (2nd District): Bob Carr, David Taylor

*For Member of State Central Committee, Woman (30th District): Carol Coleman, Khadine Ritter

*For County Commissioner: Stephanie Lang, Eddie Place

Democrat

*For Representative to Congress (2nd District): Jen Mazzuckelli, Todd Wilson

*For Member of State Central Committee, Man (30th District): Eddie Abdalla, Taylor Sappington

*For County Commissioner: Brian Whalin

Levy

*The Washington County Board of Developmental Disabilities is seeking to collect $2,167,671 annually at a rate not exceeding 0.95 mill for each $1 of taxable value. This amounts to $33 for each $100,000 of the county auditor’s market value for a period of five years, first due in 2027, according to the Washington County Board of Elections.

*The Washington County Public Library would collect $1,140,880 annually at a rate not exceeding 0.5 mill for each $1 of taxable value. This amounts to $18 for each $100,000 of the county auditor’s market value for a period of 10 years commencing in 2026 first due in 2027.

*East Muskingum Fire District would collect $290,460 annually at a rate not exceeding 2 mills for each $1 of taxable value. This amounts to $70 for each $100,000 of the county auditor’s market value for a period of five years commencing in 2026, first due in 2027.

*Marietta Township would collect $157,500 annually at a rate not exceeding 1 mill for each $1 of taxable value. This amounts to $35 for each $100,000 of the county auditor’s market value for a period of five years commencing in 2026, first due in the calendar year 2027.

State-wide candidates:

Republican

*For Governor and Lieutenant Governor: Casey Putsch and Kimberly Georgeton, Vivek Ramaswamy and Robert McColley, Heath Hill and Stuart Moats

*For Secretary of State: Robert Sprague, Marcell Strbich

*For Treasurer of State: Jay Edwards, Kristina Roegner

*For Justice of the Supreme Court: Andrew King, Jill Lanzinger, Ronald Lewis, Colleen O’Donnell

Democrat

*For Attorney General: Elliot Forhan, John Kulewicz

*For Secretary of State: Bryan Hambley, Allison Russo

*For U.S. Senator: Sherrod Brown, Ron Kincaid