Broadway, Ohio Public Records

For misdemeanor offenses and traffic violations occurring in unincorporated areas like Broadway, cases are typically heard in the Union County Court of Common Pleas or transferred to Marysville Municipal Court at 125 East Sixth Street, Marysville, OH 43040, phone (937) 642-5015, which handles misdemeanors, traffic offenses, and civil cases up to $15,000 for municipalities within Union County. Ohio court records can be searched online through the Ohio Supreme Court's public access system at www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/apps/docket, which provides case information for Common Pleas Courts statewide. Union County also maintains case information accessible through the Clerk of Courts office. Court records available to the public include case dockets, filed documents, judgments, sentence information, and party details, though certain sealed or confidential records are restricted. Certified copies of court documents are available from the Clerk of Courts for a fee of $2.00 per page plus a $1.00 certification fee per document. Simple case searches and docket viewing may be available at no charge, but copying fees apply for reproductions. Marriage license records are maintained separately by the Union County Probate Court, which can be reached at the same courthouse address.

The searchable database allows users to look up properties by address, parcel number, or owner name, making it a valuable resource for Broadway residents researching property values and ownership. The Union County Recorder's Office, located at 233 West Sixth Street, Suite 100, Marysville, OH 43040, phone (937) 645-3009, maintains official land records including deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, rights-of-way, and other instruments affecting real property. The Recorder's Office website at www.unioncountyohio.gov/recorder provides access to recorded documents. Ohio counties increasingly offer online document search and viewing capabilities, and Union County provides online access to recorded instruments through their website, though some services may require subscription fees for extensive searching or downloading images. The office records documents chronologically and by grantor/grantee indexes, allowing title searches by property owner names or legal descriptions. Union County also maintains a GIS (Geographic Information System) mapping portal accessible through the Auditor's website, which provides interactive parcel maps, aerial photography, property boundaries, zoning information, and flood plain data. This tool is particularly useful for Broadway residents examining property lines, adjacent parcels, and geographical features. Document recording fees vary based on the number of pages and type of instrument, with standard deeds typically costing around $34.00 for the first two pages plus $8.00 for each additional page.

The community's economy is closely tied to the broader Union County agricultural sector, which benefits from fertile soil and proximity to regional markets. While Broadway itself has no major employers due to its small size and unincorporated status, residents commute to nearby employment centers, particularly Marysville, which is home to Honda of America Manufacturing's largest automobile assembly plant. The Honda facility, one of Ohio's largest employers, produces Accord, CR-V, and other models and employs thousands of workers from throughout Union County, including Broadway area residents. This has driven significant economic growth in Union County since Honda's arrival in 1982, transforming the county from primarily agricultural to a mixed economy with strong manufacturing and automotive supply chain components. Other significant employment sources for Broadway residents include the Marysville Exempted Village School District, Union County government offices, healthcare facilities such as Memorial Health Marysville, and retail and service businesses in Marysville and nearby communities. The median household income in Union County was approximately $71,000 as of recent census estimates, above the Ohio state average, largely due to the high-wage manufacturing jobs at Honda and related suppliers. Broadway's proximity to Columbus, approximately 30 miles southeast, also allows some residents to commute to the state capital for employment in government, education, healthcare, and professional services. Recent years have seen gradual residential growth in rural Union County areas like Broadway as families seek affordable housing while remaining within commuting distance of Columbus and Marysville employment centers.

Broadway, Ohio, being an unincorporated community in Union County, does not have its own municipal police department. Law enforcement services for Broadway residents are provided by the Union County Sheriff's Office, located at 221 West Fifth Street, Marysville, OH 43040. The Sheriff's Office can be reached at (937) 645-4010, and their website is www.unioncountyohio.gov/sheriff. The Sheriff's Office handles all police calls, criminal investigations, traffic enforcement, and emergency response for Broadway and other unincorporated areas of Union County. Residents can request police reports and incident records by visiting the Sheriff's Office in person or submitting a written request under Ohio's public records law. Reports typically include incident numbers, dates, locations, involved parties, and case narratives for non-confidential matters.

The Union County Sheriff's Office also operates the Union County Jail, located at the same address as the main office at 221 West Fifth Street in Marysville. The jail houses inmates awaiting trial and those serving sentences for misdemeanor offenses. Current arrest and booking information can be accessed through the Union County Sheriff's inmate roster, available online at the county website. The roster typically displays names, booking dates, charges, bond amounts, and booking photos for individuals currently detained. Historical arrest records and criminal case information are maintained by the Union County Clerk of Courts.

All public records requests in Broadway and Union County are governed by Ohio Revised Code Section 149.43, the Ohio Public Records Act, which requires public offices to make records available for inspection and copying within a reasonable time. Requesters do not need to provide a reason for seeking records, and agencies may charge reasonable copying fees. Certain records, such as ongoing investigation files, confidential informant information, and juvenile records, may be exempt from disclosure under specific statutory exceptions outlined in ORC 149.43(A)(1).

Processing times typically range from 4-6 weeks for standard mail orders, or immediate issuance if applying in person at a local health department. Death certificates cost $27.50 for the first certified copy and $21.50 for each additional copy ordered at the same time. Online ordering is available through VitalChek at www.vitalchek.com, which processes requests for Ohio vital records with additional service fees. Birth records are confidential for 100 years and available only to the registrant, parents, legal guardian, or legal representative with proper identification. Marriage licenses for Broadway residents are issued by the Union County Probate Court, located at 215 West Fifth Street, Marysville, OH 43040, phone (937) 645-3008. Both parties must appear in person to apply for a marriage license, which costs $60.00 and is valid for 60 days from the date of issuance. Applicants must provide valid photo identification and Social Security numbers. Ohio eliminated the three-day waiting period in 1992, so licenses can be used immediately. Marriage records are public documents and can be searched through the Probate Court office. Certified copies of marriage certificates cost $3.00 each. Divorce records are maintained by the Union County Clerk of Courts as part of domestic relations case files, accessible at 215 West Fifth Street, Marysville. Divorce decrees and dissolution records are public unless specifically sealed by court order. Union County vital records date back to December 1867 when Ohio began statewide registration, though some earlier records exist in incomplete form.

Commercial property assessments and tax information can be searched through the Auditor's online database at www.unioncountyohio.gov/auditor. Fictitious name registrations ("Doing Business As" or DBA filings) in Ohio are filed with the Union County Clerk of Courts at 215 West Fifth Street, Marysville, OH 43040, phone (937) 645-3006. Trade name registrations must be filed if a business operates under a name different from the owner's legal name or the registered corporate name. The filing fee is approximately $50.00 and registrations are valid for five years. Existing trade name registrations can be searched through the Clerk's office. For formal business entity formation, Ohio businesses must register with the Ohio Secretary of State, Business Services Division. The Ohio Business Gateway at www.ohiobusinessgateway.gov and the Secretary of State website at www.sos.state.oh.us/businesses provide free online searching of corporations, limited liability companies (LLCs), limited partnerships, and other registered entities. The database allows searches by business name, registration number, or registered agent, displaying entity status, formation date, principal office address, registered agent information, and annual report compliance status. New LLC formation costs $99, while corporation formation costs $125. Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) financing statements, which establish security interests in personal property and business assets, are filed with the Ohio Secretary of State and searchable through their online UCC search portal. UCC searches cost $25.00 for certified searches and $15.00 for information-only searches. Business owners in Broadway can research property tax obligations for commercial real estate through the Union County Auditor's online property search system, which displays current assessed values, tax rates, payment history, and any delinquencies.

Broadway, Ohio voters are served by the Union County Board of Elections, located at 229 West Sixth Street, Suite 101, Marysville, OH 43040. The office can be reached at (937) 642-2836, and their website is www.unioncountyohio.gov/board-of-elections. This office administers all federal, state, county, and local elections for Broadway residents, maintains voter registration records, processes absentee ballot applications, certifies candidates and issues, and operates polling locations throughout Union County.

Broadway residents can register to vote online through the Ohio Secretary of State's website at www.olvr.ohiosos.gov, which allows eligible citizens to register or update their registration information. The registration deadline is 30 days before any election. To register, applicants must be U.S. citizens, Ohio residents for at least 30 days, at least 18 years old by the general election date, and not incarcerated for a felony conviction. Valid Ohio driver's license or state ID numbers are required for online registration, or the last four digits of a Social Security number.

As an unincorporated community, Broadway does not hold municipal elections for mayor or city council, as it has no incorporated municipal government. Broadway residents vote in Union County Commissioner races, county administrative offices (Sheriff, Auditor, Recorder, Treasurer, Clerk of Courts, Coroner, Engineer, Prosecuting Attorney), Allen Township Trustees and Fiscal Officer, school board elections for the Marysville Exempted Village School District, state legislative races for Ohio House and Senate districts, statewide offices, and federal races for U.S. House, U.S. Senate, and President.

Broadway voters can find their assigned polling place by using the polling location lookup tool on the Ohio Secretary of State website at www.sos.state.oh.us/elections/voters/toolkit/polling-location or by contacting the Union County Board of Elections directly. Polling places are assigned based on precinct boundaries, and Broadway residents vote at locations within Allen Township, typically at community centers, schools, or township buildings.

Under Ohio law, certain election records are public, including voter registration lists (names and addresses, though not Social Security numbers or birth dates), precinct-level election results, campaign finance reports filed by candidates and political action committees, candidate petitions and declarations of candidacy, and ballot issue information. These records can be accessed through the Union County Board of Elections office and the Ohio Secretary of State's website. In the November 2024 presidential election, Union County reported approximately 63% voter turnout, with over 20,000 ballots cast from approximately 32,000 registered voters, reflecting strong civic engagement.

The November 3, 2026 general election will be a crucial midterm election for Broadway and Union County voters. While no U.S. Senate seat from Ohio is scheduled for election in 2026 (Ohio's Senate seats are up in 2024 and 2028), voters will decide several important races. The Governor of Ohio race will be on the ballot in 2026, as Ohio governors serve four-year terms with elections in midterm years. All 99 Ohio House of Representatives seats will be contested, including the district representing Broadway. County offices up for election in 2026 will likely include Union County Commissioner seats (elected to four-year staggered terms), and various county administrative positions depending on their term schedules. Allen Township trustee positions may also appear on the ballot, as township trustees serve four-year terms. School board positions for the Marysville district may be contested as well.

Ohio voters can request absentee ballots for any reason. Applications are available online through the Ohio Secretary of State website or from the Union County Board of Elections. Completed applications must be submitted by noon on the third day before Election Day. Voted absentee ballots must be postmarked by the day before Election Day and received by the Board of Elections no later than 10 days after Election Day, or delivered in person by the close of polls on Election Day. Early in-person voting is available at the Union County Board of Elections office beginning 28 days before Election Day, with expanded hours in the final week before the election.