Hilliard voters head to the polls Nov. 3 with a competitive state House race at the top of the local ballot.

State Rep. Crystal Lett, a Democrat, is seeking a second term representing the 11th Ohio House District against Republican challenger Shawn Kaeser. The district covers Hilliard, Dublin and portions of northwest Franklin County.

Lett, 40, is a Hilliard native and former mental health case manager. Kaeser, 54, is a Dublin City Schools social studies teacher who has taught for more than 30 years, according to the Columbus Dispatch. He is also a father of nine.

The race is one of the most competitive in the Ohio legislature. The district leans 53.8% Democratic and 45.2% Republican based on voting patterns from 2016 to 2022, according to data from Dave's Redistricting App cited by the Dispatch. The Dispatch reported that Democrats need to flip just six seats to break the Republican supermajority in the Ohio House, held since 2013.

Lett won the seat in 2024, succeeding Democrat Anita Somani, who ran for another district, the Dispatch reported.

At a Thursday, Oct. 15 candidates' night at the Noor Islamic Cultural Center on Britton Parkway, Lett spoke about her motivation for running. Kaeser did not respond to an invitation to the event, according to organizers, the Hilliard Beacon reported.

Lett, a parent of a child with special needs, said her experience as a case manager showed her the barriers families face. "… Every corner you turn around, there is a legislative or funding barrier in the way to getting good mental health care and the services you need as special needs parent," Lett said at the forum.

Lett said she wants a second term to advance legislation on affordable child care and to address data center growth. She introduced House Bill 784, which would require data centers to report water consumption and bar nondisclosure agreements hiding that data from local governments, according to her Dispatch candidate profile.

Kaeser said on his campaign website he is running on property tax reform, education policy and lower government spending. He told the Dispatch there should be no new data centers built in the district and that data centers should not receive tax incentives.

Issue 3: voter ID

Hilliard voters will also weigh in on Issue 3, a proposed constitutional amendment that would require government-issued photo ID for in-person voting. Ohio law already requires photo ID to vote, a requirement in place since 2023, WOSU reported.

The central question is whether to move that requirement into the Ohio Constitution. A "yes" vote would lock the ID rules into the constitution, making future changes harder. A "no" vote would keep the existing law in place, allowing lawmakers to adjust requirements through the legislative process, according to WTOL.

Other races

The ballot also includes contests for governor, attorney general, auditor of state, secretary of state, treasurer, Ohio Supreme Court justices and 10th District Court of Appeals judges. Locally, voters will choose a Franklin County commissioner and Franklin County auditor, according to the Hilliard Beacon.

In the 15th Congressional District, Republican incumbent U.S. Rep. Mike Carey faces Democrat Don Leonard and Libertarian Brennan Barrington.

How to vote early

Early voting began Oct. 6 at the Franklin County Board of Elections, 1700 Morse Road, Columbus. Hours through Friday, Oct. 23 are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Saturday, Oct. 24 hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The final week brings extended hours: 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 26 and Wednesday, Oct. 28 through Friday, Oct. 30. Tuesday, Oct. 27 runs 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and is the last day to request an absentee ballot. Saturday, Oct. 31 hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The final day of early voting is Sunday, Nov. 1, from 1 to 5 p.m.

On Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3, polls are open 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., according to the Franklin County Board of Elections. Absentee ballots must be received by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day to be counted.