Findlay, Ohio Public Records

The process requires a valid Ohio driver's license or state ID number, or the last four digits of a Social Security number. U.S. Citizens who are at least 18 years old by election day and have resided in Ohio for at least 30 days qualify to register. Local residents are assigned to precincts based on their residential address within the city. Findlay operates under a mayor-council form of government, with municipal elections scheduled in odd-numbered years. The mayor and nine city council members—representing six wards and three at-large seats—serve four-year terms through staggered elections that bring some seats up for contest every two years. The most recent municipal elections took place in November 2023, which means the next city elections will occur in November 2025 and November 2027. Mayoral elections are nonpartisan, though candidates may have party affiliations. City council primary elections happen in May of election years when more than two candidates file for a seat, with general elections following in November. Information about municipal candidates, campaign finance filings, and local ballot issues can be found through the Hancock County Board of Elections and on the City of Findlay's website at www.findlayohio.com. Residents can locate their assigned polling place using the lookup tool on the Hancock County Board of elections website or by calling the office directly. Ohio allows early in-person voting beginning 28 days before Election Day at the Board of Elections office, providing convenient access for those who prefer not to vote on Election Day. Absentee voting by mail is available to all registered Ohio voters without requiring an excuse. Absentee ballot applications can be submitted online, by mail, or in person to the Hancock County Board of Elections. Applications must be received by the Saturday before Election Day for mail delivery, though voters may request absentee ballots in person at the board office through the day before the election. Completed absentee ballots must be postmarked by the day before Election Day and received within 10 days after the election, or delivered in person to the board by 7:30 p.m. On Election Day. In the November 2024 presidential election, Hancock County reported strong voter turnout with approximately 38,500 ballots cast out of roughly 54,000 registered voters, representing approximately 71% turnout. The county has historically leaned Republican in most statewide and federal elections, though local races are often competitive. Public election records available through the Hancock County Board of Elections include voter registration lists with limited personal information protected, precinct-level election results, candidate filings and petitions, campaign finance reports for local candidates—though state-level campaign finance is handled by the Ohio Secretary of State—and official abstracts of votes. Ohio's voter registration database is not fully public, but certain information such as voter names, addresses, and voting history showing whether someone voted in specific elections, but not how they voted, is available to campaigns, parties, and researchers under Ohio Revised Code Chapter 3503. Looking ahead to the November 3, 2026 general election, Findlay and Hancock County voters will decide several significant races. Ohio will hold statewide elections for Governor and Lieutenant Governor (four-year terms), Secretary of State, Attorney General, Auditor, Treasurer, and a U.S. Senate seat—incumbent Senator J.D. Vance's term expires in 2028, so the 2026 Senate race will be for Ohio's other seat currently held by Senator Sherrod Brown, who was re-elected in 2024 and whose term extends to 2030, though voters should check current term schedules as Ohio's 2026 U.S. Senate race depends on which seat is up. State legislative races will include Ohio House of Representatives seats—all 99 seats with two-year terms—and half of the Ohio Senate seats, 17 of 33 seats with four-year staggered terms. County voters will also elect county commissioners, county prosecutor, sheriff, clerk of courts, recorder, treasurer, engineer, and coroner in 2026, as county offices in Ohio are generally elected to four-year terms with elections in midterm years. The city will not have municipal elections in 2026 since city elections occur in odd-numbered years. Voters should consult the Hancock County Board of Elections website beginning in early 2026 for confirmed candidate lists, sample ballots, and any local ballot issues such as tax levies or charter amendments that may appear on the November 2026 ballot.