Athens County Sample Ballot & Voter Guide 2026
9 candidates are on the November 3, 2026 ballot across 6 Athens County races, led by the Athens County Commissioner contest.
County offices
CommissionerAutumn Brown (D) · Sarah Danielle Smith (R)
Autumn Brown (Democratic) and Sarah Danielle Smith (Republican) are on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Athens County Commissioner.
Autumn Brown Democratic
- Fair wages, good benefits and safe working conditions, drawing on her labor-negotiation experience
- Economic development through infrastructure improvements and community partnerships
- Fiscal responsibility and transparent budgeting
Per the campaign site.
About Autumn Brown
Autumn Brown has worked more than 28 years with the Athens County Board of Developmental Disabilities and currently directs its Integrate Athens program, per her campaign site. She also owns a small business focused on strategic planning and community development, per the same site.
Sarah Danielle Smith Republican
- Represent rural and underserved parts of the county
- Develop infrastructure that supports economic development projects
- Make decisions on data centers and other projects on facts and proposals
Per per The Post.
About Sarah Danielle Smith
Sarah Danielle Smith is a lifelong Athens County resident who runs a dairy farm and a beef cattle farm, per The Post. She is also a small business owner and human resources professional, per the Athens County Independent.
Democrat Autumn Brown (4,235 votes) and Republican Sarah Danielle Smith (1,918 votes) each won an unopposed May 5, 2026 primary (official results) and meet in November for the seat now held by Commissioner Lenny Eliason (term ends December 31, 2026), who is not seeking another term, per the Athens County Independent. Ohio counties elect one commissioner in gubernatorial years; the term begins January 1, 2027.
Full race pageAuditorJill A. Davidson (R)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Jill A. Davidson (Republican) is on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Athens County Auditor.
Jill A. Davidson Republican Incumbent
Jill A. Davidson is the sitting Athens County Auditor, per the Athens County Board of Elections roster. Per the Athens County Independent she has held the office since 2000, first by appointment, and was first elected in 2002.
Incumbent Republican Jill A. Davidson won the unopposed May 5, 2026 Republican primary (2,063 votes, official results). No Democrat filed a valid petition (the Democratic primary ballot shows 'No Valid Petition Filed'), and the Board of Elections' November candidate list shows Davidson alone. The term begins in March 2027.
Full race pageJudges
Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, General Division (term begins February 9, 2027)Nonpartisan race · Patrick Lang
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Patrick Lang is on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, General Division (term begins February 9, 2027).
Patrick Lang Nonpartisan Incumbent
Patrick Lang is a judge of the Athens County Common Pleas Court, General Division, per the Athens County website. Per the Athens Messenger he worked in the Athens County Prosecutor's Office from 2004, was elected Athens city law director in 2007, and holds a law degree from the University of Cincinnati.
Judicial races are nonpartisan on the November ballot. Lang, the sitting judge, won the Democratic primary unopposed on May 5, 2026 (4,095 votes, official results; no Republican filed a valid petition) and is the only name on the Board of Elections' November candidate list for this six-year term.
Full race pageJudge of the Court of Common Pleas, Probate/Juvenile Division (term begins February 9, 2027)Nonpartisan race · Zachary Lane Saunders
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Zachary Lane Saunders is on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, Probate/Juvenile Division (term begins February 9, 2027).
Zachary Lane Saunders Nonpartisan Incumbent
Zachary Lane Saunders is the sitting judge of the Athens County Common Pleas Court, Probate/Juvenile Division, per the Athens County Board of Elections roster. Per Court News Ohio he was an assistant county prosecutor from 2015 and earlier practiced criminal defense law, and holds a law degree from Western Michigan University Cooley Law School.
Judicial races are nonpartisan on the November ballot. Saunders, the sitting judge, won the Democratic primary unopposed on May 5, 2026 (4,071 votes, official results; no Republican filed a valid petition) and is the only name on the Board of Elections' November candidate list for this six-year term.
Full race pageBy address
These seats are elected by district; only the district covering your address is on your ballot.
Athens County is split across 2 Ohio House districts.
Find your districts by addressOhio House: 2 districtsDistricts 94, 95
Ohio House District 94Wenda Sheard (D) · Kevin Ritter (R)
Wenda Sheard Democratic
- Supports a public school funding system providing equal educational opportunities regardless of where a child lives
- Supports reforming Ohio's redistricting process so district maps are drawn by citizens
- Supports stronger regulation of injection wells that accept fracking waste
Per the campaign site.
About Wenda Sheard
Wenda Sheard is an attorney, former teacher, and trained mediator with a PhD in political science who has lived in Athens County since 1979, per her campaign site. She worked as an attorney in Ohio courts for 22 years and has also taught at Ohio University, per her campaign site.
Kevin Ritter Republican Incumbent
Kevin Ritter is the Republican incumbent for Ohio House District 94, serving his first term representing Washington and Meigs counties and most of Athens County, per the Ohio House of Representatives. He founded the sports marketing company Coast to Coast Athletics and taught history and government at several area colleges before serving as a Washington County Commissioner starting in 2018, per the same source. No campaign website was found as of September 20, 2026.
Wenda Sheard (Democratic), Kevin Ritter (Republican) are on the November 3 ballot for Ohio House District 94; Kevin Ritter is the sitting member, per the Ohio House of Representatives's official member directory (ohiohouse.gov). Nominees were chosen at the May 5, 2026 primary or qualified directly for the general ballot. The field is the Secretary of State's certified 2026 General Election candidate list; Ohio prints unopposed candidates rather than deeming them elected. This seat is elected by district; only the district covering your address appears on your ballot.
Full race pageOhio House District 95Paul Cameron (D) · Ty Moore (R)
Paul Cameron Democratic
Paul Cameron is the Democratic candidate for Ohio House District 95. Cameron is an Army veteran from St. Clairsville in Belmont County who served 24 years in the military, including a decade as a platoon sergeant, per WTOV9. No campaign website was found as of September 20, 2026.
Ty Moore Republican Incumbent
Ty Moore is the sitting State Representative for Ohio's 95th House District, per his campaign site. He previously served for nine years as a Noble County Commissioner and is a third-generation owner of R.C. Moore Lumber Company, per his campaign site.
Paul Cameron (Democratic), Ty Moore (Republican) are on the November 3 ballot for Ohio House District 95; Ty Moore is the sitting member, per the Ohio House of Representatives's official member directory (ohiohouse.gov). Nominees were chosen at the May 5, 2026 primary or qualified directly for the general ballot. The field is the Secretary of State's certified 2026 General Election candidate list; Ohio prints unopposed candidates rather than deeming them elected. This seat is elected by district; only the district covering your address appears on your ballot.
Full race pageBallot questions
3 local ballot questions from official county, city and school district lists. Countywide questions appear on every ballot in Athens County; city, school district and special-district questions only inside the jurisdiction named. Statewide measures are listed separately.
Athens County Health Department Additional Tax LevyCountywide · A yes vote approves a new 1-mill property tax for ten years to fund the Athens City-County Health Department; a no vote rejects it.
A yes vote approves a new 1-mill property tax for ten years to fund the Athens City-County Health Department; a no vote rejects it.
Full detailsAthens City School District Income Tax RenewalLocal · A yes vote renews the district's existing 1 percent school income tax for a continuing period; a no vote lets it lapse after 2028.
A yes vote renews the district's existing 1 percent school income tax for a continuing period; a no vote lets it lapse after 2028. Applies to voters in the Athens City School District only.
Full detailsAlexander Local School District Income TaxLocal · A yes vote adds a 0.75 percent school income tax for five years; a no vote rejects it.
A yes vote adds a 0.75 percent school income tax for five years; a no vote rejects it. Applies to voters in the Alexander Local School District only.
Full detailsSee your full ballot
Voting info and more
Voting info and more
Verify your ballot with the official election office.
Cross-check every race and candidate with the official election office. Official sources are the final word.
Ohio nominees were set by the May 5 primary; a plurality wins in November, unopposed candidates still print, and judicial candidates appear without party labels, per the Secretary of State.
Who is on the ballot in Athens County, Ohio on November 3, 2026?
Athens County sample ballot 2026: see where the county commissioner, county auditor and ohio house candidates stand on roads, growth and jobs. Every candidate profile on this page names the official filing or campaign source it came from.
When is the 2026 general election in Ohio?
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for Ohio are listed on the Ohio election hub. Ohio election hub →
What ballot questions are on the Athens County ballot?
3 ballot questions: Athens County Health Department Additional Tax Levy; Athens City School District Income Tax Renewal; Alexander Local School District Income Tax. Each question page explains what a yes vote and a no vote would do.
How do I see my exact Athens County ballot?
Enter your ZIP code in the lookup for the statewide and congressional races on every ballot in the county, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location. Look up your ballot →
Sample ballot by ZIP code in Athens County14 ZIP codes
Candidate roster last updated Sep 29, 2026 from official election sources.