US Trends

what is on the may ballot in ohio

Ohio's May Ballot Overview Ohio typically holds special elections in May for local issues like school levies, bond issues, and infrastructure amendments, rather than statewide primaries (which occur in March or August). As of early 2026, no statewide measures are certified for a May ballot, but local races and proposals often appear depending on your county or city. Here's the latest scoop based on recent certifications and trends.

Certified Statewide Measure (Recent Context)

Ohio certified one statewide ballot measure for May 6, 2025 : the Local Public Infrastructure Bond Amendment. This allows local governments to issue bonds for infrastructure without voter approval in some cases, aiming to speed up public works like roads and utilities. It was a key item last year, appearing on ballots statewide alongside local items like city councils and judges.

No similar statewide certification has been announced yet for May 2026 , but trends show Ohio averaging 1-2 measures early in election cycles. Watch for updates as signature deadlines pass (next ones in spring).

What's Typically on May Ballots

May elections in Ohio focus on hyper-local decisions. Common items include:

  • School levies and bonds for funding education (e.g., Mahoning County examples).
  • Municipal races : City council, mayors, judges.
  • Infrastructure proposals : Roads, parks, public safety bonds.
  • Referendums : Challenges to recent laws, like repeals of state bills (e.g., S.B. 56 sections pending).

For 2026, early petitions are circulating for November, but May could see spillover locals. Check your county board of elections (e.g., vote.mahoningcountyoh.gov) for personalized ballots.

How to Confirm Your Ballot

  1. Visit Ohio Secretary of State (ohio.gov) or your county site for sample ballots.
  2. Use tools like Ballotpedia's tracker for locals.
  1. Deadlines: Voter registration ~28 days prior; early voting starts ~28 days out.

TL;DR at Bottom : No statewide May 2026 measures certified yet—expect locals like levies and bonds. Last year's May had the infrastructure amendment statewide. Verify locally for your address.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.