The Nelsonville General Election is scheduled for Tuesday, November 4, 2025. Polling locations are open on Election Day from 6:30AM to 7:30PM. If you are in line by 7:30PM, you will be permitted to cast your vote. Nelsonville has numerous candidates on the ballot this fall, including a large amount of write-in candidates. We have listed the information to correctly vote for any write-in candidates.
To vote for a write-in candidate in Athens County, you must write the candidate’s name on the ballot in the blank “write-in” space for the specific office you are voting for. Your vote will only be counted if the candidate has filed the required “Declaration of Intent to be a Write-in Candidate” with the Athens County Board of Elections.
How to cast your write-in vote
On an optical scan paper ballot:
- Completely darken the oval next to the blank “write-in” line.
- Write the candidate’s name clearly on the line.
Important rules for write-in votes
Official candidates only: Ohio law specifies that a vote can only be counted for a write-in candidate who has filed a valid “Declaration of Intent” by the deadline.
Do not duplicate names: Never write in the name of a candidate who is already printed on the ballot for the same office. This could invalidate your vote for that contest.
Correct a mistake: If you make an error on a paper ballot, you can request a new one from an election official. You are allowed to ask for a new ballot up to two times.
Confirming a write-in candidate’s status
Since a list of official write-in candidates may not be available at your polling place, it is best to confirm the status of your preferred candidate before you vote.
To check on a local candidate:
Contact the Athens County Board of Elections at (740) 592-3201.
Their office is located at 15 S. Court Street, Room 130, Athens, OH 45701.
Here is the Nelsonville sample ballot for the Tuesday, November 4, 2025, General Election.
Here is additional voter information published by the Athens County Independent, on October 23, 2025.
Current council member Johnathan Flowers is the only candidate who will appear on the ballot for the city’s possible mayoral position. City Manager Fred Holmes and former council member Nancy Sonick are both running as write-in candidates.
Holmes and Flowers both participated in a candidate round-table held by the League of Women Voters of Athens County. Sonick did not attend, but spoke with Independent separately for our coverage of the event.
Holmes said he would prepare Nelsonville for future development in part by working to reduce “drama” in the city government, while Flowers emphasized code enforcement and suggested adding parking meters to the city. Sonick told the Independent she did not expect to win but hoped residents would vote for someone who could do the job effectively.
Former Nelsonville council clerk Thompson-Hashman is the only candidate who will appear on the ballot for the auditor position, although Nick Smith is running as a write-in candidate. Smith, a former council member, currently holds the auditor position, following his appointment in September.
Both Thompson-Hashman and Smith participated in the league’s Nelsonville event. Smith emphasized a conservative approach to city finances and Thompson-Hashman emphasized tax collection on vacant properties.
All city council races in Nelsonville will be uncontested. Cameron Peck is the only candidate who will appear on the ballot for the four available one-month council seats, which are intended to fill a December gap between council positions expiring under the charter and the new statutory positions that may take effect in January.
Recently appointed city council member McCray Powell and current council members Cory Taylor and Nic Joseph Saul are running as write-in candidates.
McCray, Powell and Saul are also running for two of seven available council seats under the would-be statutory government, alongside newcomers Lynn Bishop, Wesley M. Henderson, Jessica L. Hollenbaugh, Glenn A. Smith, and write-in candidate Carol Sue Powell.
Here is a list of all the Nelsonville candidates and ballot issues.
Nelsonville City
Candidates and Issues General Election November 4, 2025
(Source: Athens County Board of Elections)
Mayor – 1 to be elected
- Jonathan R. Flowers
- Fred Holmes (WRITE-IN)
- Nancy Sonick (WRITE-IN)
President of Council – 1 to be elected
- Daniel L. Sherman
Auditor – 1 to be elected
- Andrea Nicole Thompson-Hashma
- Nicholas Smith (WRITE-IN)
Treasurer – 1 to be elected
- Brian Elkins (WRITE-IN)
Law Director – 1 to be elected
- No Candidate Filed
Council at Large – 7 to be elected
- Lynn Bishop
- Wesley M Henderson
- Jessica L. Hollenbaugh
- Nic Joseph Saul
- McCray Powell
- Glenn A. Smith
- Carol Sue Powell (WRITE-IN)
Council at Large – Term 12-1-2025 – 12-31-2025 – 4 to be elected
- Cameron Peck
- Cory Taylor
- Nic Joseph Saul
- McCray Powell (WRITE-IN)
YORK TOWNSHIP – TOWNSHIP TRUSTEE – 2 TO BE ELECTED
- Bill Mellinger
- Timothy R. Warren
NELSONVILLE-YORK CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT – MEMBER OF BD OF EDUCATION – 2 TO BE ELECTED
- Micah J. Covert
- Michael S. Elliott
Athens County Issue #1 – Athens County Board of Developmental Disabilities
A renewal of a tax for the benefit of Athens County for the purpose of maintenance and operation of programs and services of the Athens County Board of Developmental Disabilities, for persons with developmental disabilities for the benefit of the County of Athens that the county auditor estimates will collect $2,076,213 annually, at a rate not exceeding 1.8 mills for each $1 of taxable value, which amounts to $44 for each $100,000 of the county auditor’s appraised value, for 5 years, commencing in 2026, first due in calendar year 2027.
Athens County Issue #2 – Athens County 9-1-1
The Board of County Commissioners of Athens County proposes to continue to levy a sales and use tax in the amount of 0.25 per cent for the purpose of the operation of 9-1-1 for a period of 5 years.
Shall the resolution of the Athens County Commissioners proposing a 0.25 per cent sales and use tax be approved?
Athens County Issue #3 – Athens County Emergency Medical Services
A replacement of 1 mill of an existing levy and an increase of 0.5 mill to constitute a tax for the benefit of Athens County for the purpose of operation and maintenance of emergency medical services that the county auditor estimates will collect $2,250,474 annually, at a rate not exceeding 1.5 mills for each $1 of taxable value, which amounts to $53 for each $100,000 of the county auditor’s appraised value, for 5 years, commencing in 205, first due in calendar year 2026.
Nelsonville City Issue #4 – Streets, Roads and Bridges
A replacement of a tax for the benefit of the City of Nelsonville for the purpose of general construction, reconstruction, resurfacing and repair of streets, roads and bridges that the county auditor estimates will collect $186,055 annually, at a rate not exceeding 3 mills for each $1of taxable value, which amounts to $105 for each $100,000 of the county auditor’s appraised value, for 5 years, commencing in 2025, first due in calendar year 2026.
York Township Issue #27 – Cemetaries
A renewal of a tax for the benefit of York Township (Including Nelsonville and Buchtel) for the purpose of cemeteries operation and maintenance that the county auditor estimates will collect $230,017 annually, at a rate not exceeding 2 mills for each $1 of taxable value, which amounts to $52 for each each $100,000 of the county auditor’s appraised value, for 5 years, commencing in 2026, first due in calendar year 2027.
Nelsonville City Issue #32 – Nelsonville Precicnt #1 – (By Petition), Local Liqour Option Sunday Sales
Shall the sale of beer, wine and mixed beverages and spirituous liquor be permitted for sale on Sunday by Black Diamond Brewery, Distillation COLLC; dba Black Diamond Brewery and Distillery an applicant for a D-6 liquor permit who is engaged in the business of brewery, distillery and food service at 185 W. Canal St., Nelsonville, OH 45764 in this precinct?
Here is a downloadable and printable version of the list.
City of Nelsonville, Ohio Information Blog 