Judges
What are the minimum requirements to run for judge in Ohio?
- A candidate must be a licensed attorney with at least six years of experience practicing law in Ohio.
- The candidate must be a resident and a registered voter in the territory or district of the court for which he or she seeks.
- The candidate cannot reach the age of 70 prior to beginning a term in office.
How long is a judge’s term in office?
All judges serve six-year terms.
Election Day
When is the 2020 general election?
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020.
Polls are open throughout Ohio beginning at 6:30 a.m. Polls close at 7:30 p.m.
Judicial Votes Count Website
Why is a judge candidate’s political affiliation not listed here on his/her bio?
In Ohio, municipal judge candidates run in partisan primary elections in some counties, meaning they are nominated by a political party and their political affiliation is listed on the primary ballot. In other counties, municipal court candidates are nominated by petition only and do not appear on the primary ballot.
However, all judicial candidates run as non-partisan candidates during the general election, meaning their political affiliation, if any, is not listed on the ballot.
This website is representative of what voters will see on their ballots; it will list candidates’ political affiliation, if any, prior to a primary election, but will not list political affiliation prior to a general election.
Why does my county not have local judge races this year?
The terms for judicial seats are staggered, so judges are not all elected at the same time.
In 2020, all voters will vote for two Supreme Court justices’ seats and seats in their district of the Ohio Court of Appeals. Voters in most Ohio counties also will vote for county court and common pleas court judges.
Why are there no bar ratings or recommendations listed for candidates in my county?
Not all local bar associations rate or recommend candidates.
It’s also possible that a candidate has not added endorsements, ratings, or recommendations to his or her candidate profile.
It is up to the candidates to request these additions to online profiles.