Ohio election officials meet in Wapakoneta to prep for November 2026

WAPAKONETA, Ohio (WLIO) — The Auglaize Board of Elections hosted the Northwest Regional Meeting of the Ohio Association of Election Officials at the Wapakoneta High School and Performance Arts Center. 

Those in attendance received crisis communications training, reviewed ballot procedures and spoke about how to improve the Ohio election system for this year. 

"And this is an opportunity for local election officials to get together, to hear from the Secretary of State's office, and the whole goal really is to prepare and be as ready as possible for November of 2026. So, we're sharing notes, we're comparing stories, we're doing prep work, we're trying to think ahead strategically about what we need to be prepared for and then come up with a plan really, or continue our plan really, for the next few months to get ready for November," said Aaron Ockerman, Executive Director of the Ohio Association of Election Officials.

"Well, there's no election that isn't important, and after every election we do an After-Action Review. Every single Board of Elections does it. the Secretary of State's office does it. We look at what worked, the issues that might have arisen, and we come up with strategies to address those issues and fix things that might be improved on, and sustained things that have gone really well," said Dan Lusheck, Communications Director for the Ohio Secretary of State.

Election day is still a few months away, but there are still a few things Ohioans can do to be ready for November.

"Ensure your registration is up to date. If you're planning to vote absentee, you know, by mail, you can request your mail-in ballot today and you'll be one of the first to receive it when early voting starts this fall. Talk to your friends and neighbors. If you have friends and neighbors who you don't know if they're registered or not, just remind them to check. It takes five minutes. You can go to voteohio.gov and check your voter registration and ensure you're ready to make your voice heard this November," Lusheck said.

Early in-person voting and voting by mail will begin on October 6. Election Day is November 3.