Pataskala Voter Guide: November 3, 2026 Election

What's on the ballot in Pataskala?

The Licking County Board of Elections divides the city into eight precincts: Pataskala 1-A, 1-B, 2-A, 2-B, 3-A, 3-B, 4-A and 4-B. PataskalaOH.com reviewed the Board's official ballot displays for all eight on October 9, 2026.

Those displays show that every Pataskala precinct has the same 22 items:

• 16 candidate contests for state, federal, judicial and county offices
• State Issue 3, a proposed amendment to the Ohio Constitution
• A renewal tax levy for the Licking Park District
• Four proposed amendments to the Pataskala City Charter

Some Pataskala voters have three more. According to the Board of Elections' list of filed issues, voters in all or part of precincts 1-B, 3-A, 3-B, 4-A and 4-B that lie within the Pataskala Public Library district and the Southwest Licking Local School District will also see a library renewal levy and two school district issues. Their ballots have 25 items.

There are no Pataskala City Council or mayoral contests on the ballot displays for this election.

Pataskala charter amendments

All Pataskala voters decided four separate proposed amendments to the City Charter. Each appeared under the heading “Proposed Charter Amendment, City of Pataskala,” each is a YES or NO question, and each requires a majority affirmative vote to pass. The ballot displays do not give these four questions issue numbers, so they are described here in the order they appear.

The first three come from the City's Charter Revision Commission process. Their ballot wording names the Charter sections affected but does not describe the changes. The fourth began as a citizen initiative petition, which Council placed on the ballot by Ordinance 2026-4524 on August 3, 2026. Its full text is printed on the ballot. For background on the Charter and how Council passes ordinances, see How Pataskala City Government Works.

First question: Section 3.07, Salaries of Elected Officials

What would change: Section 3.07 of the Charter.

What the Commission recommended: allowing elected officials to take part in the same healthcare benefits available to full-time City employees, with the official paying the entire cost and the City paying none of it.

Second question: ten Charter sections, decided together

What would change: Sections 3.02 (Composition, Term, and Qualifications of Council), 4.14 (Publication of Ordinances and Resolutions), 5.04 (City Administrator), 5.05 (Powers of City Administrator), 6.02 (Director of Finance), 6.03 (Other Administrative Departments), 8.02 (Contracting Powers and Procedures), 9.01 (Nominations), 10.02 (Recall) and 11.01 (Removal of Officials). Voters approve or reject all ten as a single question.

What the Commission recommended:

• Clarifying that ward Council members must live in the ward they are elected from
• Removing a duplicated Charter section
• Preventing the Finance Director from serving as Acting City Administrator, and the City Administrator from serving as Acting Finance Director
• Requiring a formal internal review of City emergency plans every five years
• Broadening the City Administrator's ability to attend boards and commissions
• Changing a provision that says Council "shall provide" an independent internal control audit at least every six years to say Council "may provide" one as it deems necessary
• Renaming the Department of Inspection as the Department of Planning and Zoning
• Allowing the City Administrator or a designee to serve as contracting officer
• Replacing the Charter's own signature requirements for nominating and recall petitions with references to election law and the Ohio Revised Code
• Adding consultation with the Law Director, or a representative, before a charging official gives notice of alleged cause in the process for removing officials
• Adding City websites and social media to certain public-notice requirements

Third question: Section 7.04, Parks and Recreation Board

What would change: Section 7.04 of the Charter.

What the Commission recommended: adding the title “Director of Parks and Recreation” alongside Park Manager. The recommended text also removes language saying that employment of the Park Manager is subject to confirmation by a majority of Council and that Council may consider input from the Park Board.

Ordinance 2026-4521 states that amendments approved by voters under these three questions would take effect January 1, 2027.

Fourth question: new Section 11.09, Prohibition of a Data Center

What would change: a new Section 11.09 would be added to Article XI of the Charter.

What the ballot text says: “The construction of a data center is hereby prohibited.” Construction is defined to include the erection of buildings, infrastructure and facilities, and preparations and modifications for them.

The definition of a data center has two parts, and both must apply. The buildings or facilities must be used primarily or exclusively for digital information services, and they must have an aggregate monthly demand or peak load of greater than 25 megawatts, from any energy source or combination of sources. The facilities may be on a single parcel or on contiguous, adjacent or otherwise aggregated parcels.

The ballot question says the amendment would prohibit construction of a data center within the City limits and would be effective immediately. The text addresses construction; it does not say that existing facilities would be prohibited from operating.

For the original reporting on these four questions, read What the four Pataskala charter amendments on the November 3 ballot proposed. For the unofficial results, read Unofficial results show majority yes votes on all four Pataskala charter amendments. The official ballot wording is available through the Board of Elections voter lookup and its list of filed issues.

Other contests and issues

Issues on every Pataskala ballot

State Issue 3, proposed constitutional amendment. Titled “To require voters to present photo identification in order to vote,” it was proposed by joint resolution of the Ohio General Assembly and would enact Section 5 of Article V of the Ohio Constitution. A majority yes vote is required. It appears on every ballot in Ohio. The Secretary of State publishes the official ballot language and arguments.

Licking Park District, renewal tax levy. A renewal for parks, trails and recreational purposes at a rate not exceeding 0.375 mills, which the ballot says amounts to $10 for each $100,000 of the county auditor's market value, for five years. The county auditor estimates it will collect $2,274,412 annually. It appears on every ballot in Licking County.

Issues on some Pataskala ballots

These three appear only for voters whose address is in the district named. In Pataskala that is all or part of precincts 1-B, 3-A, 3-B, 4-A and 4-B.

Pataskala Public Library, renewal tax levy. A renewal of 1 mill for current expenses of the Library, which the ballot says amounts to $21 for each $100,000 of the county auditor's market value, for five years. The county auditor estimates it will collect $901,850 annually.

Southwest Licking Local School District, bond issue. Asks whether bonds should be issued in the principal amount of $80,710,000 for constructing, renovating, expanding and equipping school facilities, to be repaid over a maximum of 35 years. The ballot estimates the property tax at an average of 2.87 mills, which it says amounts to $100 for each $100,000 of the county auditor's market value.

Southwest Licking Local School District, income tax replacement. Asks whether the existing tax of 0.75% on the school district income of individuals should be replaced by a tax of 2% on the earned income of individuals living in the district, for a continuing period beginning January 1, 2027, for current operating expenses. The ballot states that if the new tax is not approved, the existing tax remains in effect for the rest of its previously approved term.

Candidate contests

The same 16 candidate contests appear on the ballot display for every Pataskala precinct. Candidates are listed alphabetically by surname here. The order printed on your ballot may differ: the Board's ballot displays show candidates in a different order from one precinct to another.

Source: Licking County Board of Elections official ballot displays for Pataskala precincts and its certified candidates list, which also names declared write-in candidates.

Find your exact ballot and polling place

Because ballots differ by address, the most reliable way to see yours is to look it up with election officials.

• Licking County Board of Elections voter lookup: check your registration, see your sample ballot and find your polling place.
• Ohio Secretary of State sample ballot directory.
• Ohio Secretary of State voter registration lookup.

On Election Day you vote at the polling place assigned to your precinct, which is based on the address in your voter registration. If you are unsure of yours, call the Board of Elections at 740-670-5080. Its office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Early and absentee voting

Early in-person voting

Early in-person voting for Licking County takes place at the Board of Elections office, 20 S. Second St., Newark. It began October 6, and the published schedule ends on Sunday, November 1.

Source: Licking County Board of Elections early voting hours. The same hours are published by the Ohio Secretary of State.

Absentee voting by mail

• Request a ballot. You must complete the official Application for Absent Voter's Ballot. The Board of Elections links to the application form, and you can also get one from the Board.
• Application deadline. Your application must be received by the Board of Elections by 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 27.
• Return deadline. Your completed ballot must be received by the Board of Elections by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day, November 3. If you are mailing it, allow time for delivery.
• Returning it in person. The Secretary of State says you or a near relative may deliver your completed ballot to your county board of elections by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day. Contact the Board of Elections for its drop-off arrangements.
• Track it. Use the Board of Elections absentee ballot lookup.

Military and overseas voters have different dates. See the Secretary of State voting schedule.

Sources: Ohio Secretary of State voting schedule and elections frequently asked questions.

What identification do I need?

To vote in person, early or on Election Day, the Ohio Secretary of State says you must show a valid, unexpired photo identification that has your name and photograph. Accepted forms are:

• An Ohio driver license, State of Ohio ID card, or interim ID form issued by the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles
• A U.S. passport or U.S. passport card
• A U.S. military ID card, U.S. military dependent ID card, Ohio National Guard ID card, or U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs ID card

Documents the Secretary of State lists as not accepted include a utility bill, bank statement, government check or paycheck, a Social Security card or birth certificate, a driver license or photo ID from another state, and Ohio Mobile ID.

If you do not have an accepted ID at the polls, you can cast a provisional ballot. For it to be counted, you must present an accepted form of identification at the Board of Elections office within four days after Election Day.

If you vote absentee by mail, the identification envelope asks for your driver license number, the last four digits of your Social Security number, or a copy of your ID.

These are the identification rules the Secretary of State currently publishes. State Issue 3 on this ballot is a separate question about voter identification in the Ohio Constitution, described above.

Source: Ohio Secretary of State voter ID requirements.

Sources and updates

The election dates, hours, deadlines, locations and identification rules in this guide were checked against the Ohio Secretary of State and the Licking County Board of Elections on October 9, 2026. Ballot contents were read from the Board of Elections' official ballot displays for all eight Pataskala precincts on the same date. The Board notes that its list of filed issues is subject to change.

Election officials are the authority on your registration, ballot and polling place. If anything here differs from what they tell you, follow the official source and let us know so we can correct it. PataskalaOH.com will update this guide if official information changes.

• Licking County Board of Elections
• Board of Elections list of filed issues
• Board of Elections certified candidates list
• Ohio Secretary of State voting schedule
• Ohio Secretary of State voter ID requirements
• Ohio Secretary of State: State Issue 3
• City of Pataskala: signed copies of Ordinances 2026-4521 and 2026-4524, and the Charter Revision Commission's final 2025 recommendations to Council

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