Buford, Ohio Public Records

Ohio residents can register to vote online through the Ohio Secretary of State's website at www. OhioSOS.gov/elections/voters/register, by mail using a National Voter Registration Form, or in person at the board's Hillsboro office. Registration must be completed 30 days before any election. Applicants need to provide an Ohio driver's license number or the last four digits of their Social Security number, and first-time voters may need proof of residency. As an unincorporated community, Buford has no municipal government, which means no city council or mayoral races. Instead, residents vote in Brush Creek Township trustee elections, where three trustees serve four-year staggered terms. County offices on the ballot include commissioners, sheriff, auditor, treasurer, recorder, prosecutor, clerk of courts, engineer, and coroner. State legislative races include Ohio House District 90 and Ohio Senate District 14. Polling locations for residents can be found using the lookup tool at www.ohiosos.gov/elections/voters/toolkit/polling-location or by calling the board at (937) 393-9961. Most residents cast ballots at Brush Creek Township Community Center or similar local precincts depending on their specific address within the township. Republican candidates carried the county by approximately 70-28 margins in most races, reflecting the area's strong conservative lean. All Ohio constitutional offices will be contested, including Secretary of State, Attorney General, Auditor, and Treasurer. Highland County offices on the ballot include County Commissioner (one seat on the three-member board), Prosecuting Attorney, and potentially Sheriff depending on term cycles. All Highland County Council of Governments positions and various township trustees including Brush Creek Township will also appear on the ballot. U.S. Senate races do not occur in 2026 for Ohio since Senator Sherrod Brown and Senator-elect Bernie Moreno (elected 2024) will not face re-election until 2028 and 2030 respectively. Statewide ballot issues regarding constitutional amendments or legislative referenda may also appear. Ohio offers no-excuse absentee voting, allowing any registered voter to request an absentee ballot without providing a reason. Applications can be submitted online through the Ohio Secretary of State's website, by mail, or in person at the Highland County Board of Elections beginning January 1 of the election year. The board must receive applications by noon the Saturday before Election Day for mail delivery, or in person until 3:00 PM the day before Election Day. Voted absentee ballots must be postmarked by the day before Election Day and received within 10 days after, or deposited in the secure drop box at the board's office by 7:30 PM on Election Day. Public election records in Ohio include voter registration lists, available for purchase by campaigns and parties with personal information like birthdates redacted. Campaign finance reports filed by candidates and PACs are searchable at www.ohiosos.gov. Candidate petition filings, statements, and precinct-level election results are also public. The Highland County Board of Elections posts unofficial results on election night at www.boe.highland.oh.us and certifies official results within approximately two weeks