Stark County Sample Ballot & Voter Guide 2026
21 candidates are on the November 3, 2026 ballot across 12 Stark County races, led by the Stark County Commissioner contest.
County offices
CommissionerTony M. Townsend (D) · Alan Harold (R)
Tony M. Townsend (Democratic) and Alan Harold (Republican) are on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Stark County Commissioner.
Tony M. Townsend Democratic
Townsend represents Ward 4 on Massillon City Council, per the city's official website. No campaign website was found as of September 9, 2026; the official roster and election filing is the only verifiable source for Tony M. Townsend.
Alan Harold Republican Incumbent
Harold was appointed Stark County Commissioner in November 2024 after having served as Stark County Auditor for nearly 14 years, per the county's official website. No campaign website was found as of September 9, 2026; the official roster and election filing is the only verifiable source for Alan Harold.
This is the one commission seat up in 2026 (Alan Harold's term runs until 12/31/2026); fellow commissioners Bill Smith and Richard Regula are not on this year's ballot, per the county's official Elected Officials List. Harold won the May 5, 2026 Republican primary over Canal Fulton Mayor Joe Schultz, per WHBC News; Townsend was unopposed in the Democratic primary, per the county's official primary results.
Full race pageAuditorChalice E. Brown (D) · Angela Kinsey (R)
Chalice E. Brown Democratic
Brown has worked as a Controller at Greer Steel Company and previously as a Senior Accountant at East Manufacturing Corporation, per her LinkedIn profile. No campaign website was found as of September 9, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Chalice E. Brown.
Angela Kinsey Republican Incumbent
Angela Kinsey is the Republican nominee for Stark County Auditor and was appointed acting County Auditor effective December 5, 2024, after nearly 14 years working in the Auditor's Office, where she previously served as executive administrator handling hiring, payroll, benefits and department management, per WHBC News-Talk 1480. No campaign website was found as of September 27, 2026.
Term through 3/7/2027 is up; Angela Kinsey holds the seat by appointment, per the county's official Elected Officials List. This contest is on the November 3, 2026 ballot.
Full race pageJudges
Judge of the Stark County Court of Common Pleas, General Division (term commencing 1/1/2027)Nonpartisan race · Kristin G. Farmer
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Kristin G. Farmer is on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Judge of the Stark County Court of Common Pleas, General Division (term commencing 1/1/2027).
Kristin G. Farmer Nonpartisan Incumbent
Farmer has served as a Stark County Common Pleas judge, General Division, since 2021, per the county's official Elected Officials List. No campaign website was found as of September 9, 2026; the official roster and election filing is the only verifiable source for Kristin G. Farmer.
Judges print without party labels in November. Farmer is the sitting judge (term through 12/31/2026) and was unopposed in the Republican primary and in November, per the certified candidate list and the county's official Elected Officials List.
Full race pageJudge of the Stark County Court of Common Pleas, General Division (term commencing 1/4/2027)Nonpartisan race · Frank G. Forchione
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Frank G. Forchione is on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Judge of the Stark County Court of Common Pleas, General Division (term commencing 1/4/2027).
Frank G. Forchione Nonpartisan Incumbent
Forchione has served as a Stark County Common Pleas judge, General Division, since 2021, per the county's official Elected Officials List. No campaign website was found as of September 9, 2026; the official roster and election filing is the only verifiable source for Frank G. Forchione.
Judges print without party labels in November. Forchione is the sitting judge (term through 1/3/2027) and was unopposed in the Democratic primary and in November, per the certified candidate list and the county's official Elected Officials List.
Full race pageJudge of the Stark County Court of Common Pleas, General Division (term commencing 2/9/2027)Nonpartisan race · Kristen S. Moore · Jennifer L. Dave
Kristen S. Moore and Jennifer L. Dave are on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Judge of the Stark County Court of Common Pleas, General Division (term commencing 2/9/2027).
Kristen S. Moore Nonpartisan
- Serving as a tough, fair judge who is not intimidated by difficult decisions
Per the campaign site.
About Kristen S. Moore
Moore has served as a Magistrate at the Stark County Court of Common Pleas for more than six years and has practiced law in Stark County for nearly two decades, per her campaign site. She holds a bachelor's degree in English from Malone University and a Juris Doctor from the University of Akron School of Law, and has argued cases before the Ohio Supreme Court and the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Jennifer L. Dave Nonpartisan
Dave is an attorney with the Stark County Prosecutor's Office, per the Stark County Bar Association's membership directory. No campaign website was found as of September 9, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Jennifer L. Dave.
Judges print without party labels in November. This is an open seat: sitting judge Taryn L. Heath (term through 2/8/2027) is not seeking reelection, per the county's official Elected Officials List and AOL/Ohio primary election reporting. Moore won a contested Democratic primary; Dave was unopposed in the Republican primary.
Full race pageJudge of the Stark County Court of Common Pleas, Probate DivisionNonpartisan race · Curt Werren
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Curt Werren is on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Judge of the Stark County Court of Common Pleas, Probate Division.
Curt Werren Nonpartisan Incumbent
Werren was appointed Stark County Probate Court judge on February 21, 2025, per the county's official Elected Officials List. No campaign website was found as of September 9, 2026; the official roster and election filing is the only verifiable source for Curt Werren.
Judges print without party labels in November. Werren is the sitting judge, appointed 2/21/2025 (term through 2/8/2027), and was unopposed in the Republican primary and in November, per the certified candidate list and the county's official Elected Officials List.
Full race pageBy address
These seats are elected by district; only the district covering your address is on your ballot.
Stark County is split across 6 Ohio Senate and House districts.
Find your districts by addressOhio Senate: 2 districtsDistricts 29, 31
Ohio Senate District 29Thomas West (D) · Jane Timken (R)
Thomas West Democratic
Thomas West is the Democratic candidate for Ohio Senate District 29 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the Secretary of State's certified 2026 General Election candidate list. West previously represented Ohio House District 49 (Canton and most of Massillon) from 2017 to 2023, per Gongwer News Service Ohio. He is a businessman from Canton now running to represent Senate District 29, per Gongwer News Service Ohio. No campaign website was found as of September 11, 2026.
Jane Timken Republican Incumbent
Jane Timken is the Republican candidate for Ohio Senate District 29 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the Secretary of State's certified 2026 General Election candidate list. Jane Timken is a sitting member for the district, per the Ohio Senate's official member directory (ohiosenate.gov). Timken is the incumbent state senator for Ohio Senate District 29, per the Ohio Senate member directory, per Ohio Senate member directory. Ohio Senate Republicans appointed her to the seat on January 29, 2025, to succeed the late Sen. Kirk Schuring, and she previously served as chair of the Republican Party of Ohio, per Ohio Senate press release. No campaign website was found as of September 11, 2026.
Thomas West (Democratic), Jane Timken (Republican) are on the November 3 ballot for Ohio Senate District 29; Jane Timken is the sitting member, per the Ohio Senate's official member directory (ohiosenate.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 Senate District 31Laura Sirot (D) · Al Landis (R)
Laura Sirot Democratic
- Building bipartisan consensus and prioritizing community over party division
- Responsive, listening-focused representation
Per the campaign site.
About Laura Sirot
Laura Sirot, a professor of biology and a resident of Wooster, is the Democratic nominee for Ohio Senate District 31, per The Wooster Voice. Her campaign says she wants to move past partisan differences and build consensus around practical solutions for Ohioans, per her campaign site.
Al Landis Republican Incumbent
Al Landis, the Republican incumbent, has represented Ohio Senate District 31 since January 2023. A native of Dover in Tuscarawas County, he spent 33 years in sales and marketing at Greer Steel Company before serving four terms in the Ohio House and as a Tuscarawas County commissioner, per his official Ohio Senate biography. No campaign website was found as of September 11, 2026.
Laura Sirot (Democratic), Al Landis (Republican) are on the November 3 ballot for Ohio Senate District 31; Al Landis is the sitting member, per the Ohio Senate's official member directory (ohiosenate.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: 4 districtsDistricts 48, 49, 50, 51
Ohio House District 48Nick Morris (D) · Christina M. Hagan (R)
Nick Morris Democratic
- Education
- Cost of living for working families
- Healthcare access
Per the campaign site.
About Nick Morris
Morris has worked in education and describes his background as combining community service with work among leaders of varied political, educational, professional and religious perspectives, per the campaign site. He is running for the Ohio House District 48 seat being vacated by Scott Oelslager, per the campaign site.
Christina M. Hagan Republican
Christina M. Hagan is the Republican candidate for Ohio House District 48 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the Secretary of State's certified 2026 General Election candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 11, 2026.
Nick Morris (Democratic), Christina M. Hagan (Republican) are on the November 3 ballot for Ohio House District 48. Not on the November ballot: Scott Oelslager, the sitting member per the roster. 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 49Krista L Allison (D) · Jim Thomas (R)
Krista L Allison Democratic
- Support for public education
- Investing in young people and neighborhood/community strengthening
- Making state government more effective for everyday Ohioans
Per the campaign site.
About Krista L Allison
Krista L Allison is the Democratic candidate for Ohio House District 49 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the Secretary of State's certified 2026 General Election candidate list. Allison holds a J.D. from Case Western Reserve University School of Law and previously served as Executive Director at the Ohio Department of Education, per Allison campaign site. She also directed the Office of Student, Family, and Community Support for Canton City Schools and led the Stark County CARE Team supporting at-risk youth, per Allison campaign site.
Jim Thomas Republican Incumbent
- Supports requiring state universities to disclose expected earnings and loan payment information to students before enrollment
Per the campaign site.
About Jim Thomas
Jim Thomas is serving his second term in the Ohio House of Representatives representing the 49th District, per his campaign site. He is a licensed attorney with a law degree from Case Western Reserve University and previously served on the Jackson Township Board of Trustees, per his campaign site.
Krista L Allison (Democratic), Jim Thomas (Republican) are on the November 3 ballot for Ohio House District 49; Jim Thomas 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 50Rylan Z. Finzer (D) · Matthew Kishman (R)
Rylan Z. Finzer Democratic
Rylan Z. Finzer is the Democratic candidate for Ohio House District 50 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the Secretary of State's certified 2026 General Election candidate list. Of Massillon; nominating petition initially faced a signature-count challenge from the Stark County Board of Elections ahead of the May 5, 2026 primary, per Ohio Capital Journal. No campaign website was found as of September 11, 2026.
Matthew Kishman Republican Incumbent
Matthew Kishman is the Republican candidate for Ohio House District 50 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the Secretary of State's certified 2026 General Election candidate list. Matthew Kishman is a sitting member for the district, per the Ohio House of Representatives's official member directory (ohiohouse.gov). Represents the 50th Ohio House District in Stark County and is seeking re-election in 2026, per Ohio House of Representatives member directory. No campaign website was found as of September 11, 2026.
Rylan Z. Finzer (Democratic), Matthew Kishman (Republican) are on the November 3 ballot for Ohio House District 50; Matthew Kishman 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 51Amanda Fontana (D) · Jodi Salvo (R)
Amanda Fontana Democratic
- Fully fund Ohio's public schools at the state level to provide permanent property tax relief for residents
- Address the rising cost of living, including grocery prices and utility bills, through property tax reform, affordable housing and job growth
- Lower prescription drug costs, expand mental health services and protect Medicaid for families and seniors
Per the campaign site.
About Amanda Fontana
Amanda Fontana is the Democratic candidate for Ohio House District 51 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the Secretary of State's certified 2026 General Election candidate list. Works as a college instructor in the Health and Public Services division at Stark State College and as an independent provider through the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities, per campaign site. Serves on the New Philadelphia City Schools Board of Education and holds a master's degree in social work, per campaign site.
Jodi Salvo Republican Incumbent
Jodi Salvo is the Republican candidate for Ohio House District 51 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the Secretary of State's certified 2026 General Election candidate list. Jodi Salvo is a sitting member for the district, per the Ohio House of Representatives's official member directory (ohiohouse.gov). Represents the 51st Ohio House District, covering parts of southern Stark County and Tuscarawas County, and is seeking re-election in 2026, per Ohio House of Representatives member directory. No campaign website was found as of September 11, 2026.
Amanda Fontana (Democratic), Jodi Salvo (Republican) are on the November 3 ballot for Ohio House District 51; Jodi Salvo 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
2 local ballot questions from official county, city and school district lists. Countywide questions appear on every ballot in Stark County; city, school district and special-district questions only inside the jurisdiction named. Statewide measures are listed separately.
Stark County District Library Levy (Renewal and Increase)Countywide · A renewal of 2 mills plus an increase of 0.3 mill for current expenses, 8 years, commencing in 2027.
A renewal of 2 mills plus an increase of 0.3 mill for current expenses, 8 years, commencing in 2027. Renewal-and-increase levy for the Stark County District Library, which also serves parts of Carroll, Portage, and Summit counties.
Full detailsStark Area Regional Transit Authority (SARTA) Sales and Use Tax ContinuationLocal · Continuation of a 0.25% sales and use tax for all transit purposes, for 10 years.
Continuation of a 0.25% sales and use tax for all transit purposes, for 10 years. Countywide transit sales-tax continuation, listed under "County Issues" on the certified issues list.
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 Stark County, Ohio on November 3, 2026?
Stark County sample ballot 2026: see where the county commissioner and county auditor candidates stand on schools and health care. 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 Stark County ballot?
2 ballot questions: Stark County District Library Levy (Renewal and Increase); Stark Area Regional Transit Authority (SARTA) Sales and Use Tax Continuation. Each question page explains what a yes vote and a no vote would do.
How do I see my exact Stark 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 Stark County31 ZIP codes
Candidate roster last updated Sep 27, 2026 from official election sources.