STEUBENVILLE — While there will be few contested races on Tuesday’s primary election ballot, voters in some parts of Jefferson County are being asked to renew taxes that provide vital services in their communities.

The race that has attracted the most attention in the run-up to the primary can be found on the Republican ballot, where incumbent state Rep. Ron Ferguson of Wintersville is being challenged for the party’s nomination for the 96th Ohio House District seat. His opponent is Frank Hoagland of Adena, a former state senator.

That winner will advance to the Nov. 3 general election and take on Charrie Foglio of Toronto, who is unopposed on the Democratic side.

The 96th District includes all of Jefferson and Monroe counties, and a portion of Belmont County.

Polls will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., and officials said they are expecting a higher turnout than is normally seen in a mid-term primary election.

“There are a couple of races that voters see as pivotal,” said Bob Gale, director of the Jefferson County Board of Elections.

Gale said he and his staff expect things will go smoothly Tuesday. There are no polling location changes in the county, he added.

Republican voters also will face a choice in the 6th Congressional District: Incumbent U.S. Rep. Michael Rulli of Salem is being challenged for the party’s nomination by Jullie Kelley of Sherrodsville.

The Democratic side in that race is a little more crowded, with six candidates listed on the ballot, plus a write-in option. Sean Connolly of Canfield, Charlie DiPalma of Steubenville, Brent Hanni of Youngstown, Elizabeth Kirtley of New Philadelphia, Malcolm Ritchie of Dover and Adrian Vitus of Poland all appear on the ballot. Christopher Lafont of Bethesda is listed as a write-in.

Steubenville voters are being asked to renew two income taxes that local officials say are vital for the city’s operation: The 0.7 percent income tax provides money for street improvements and equipment, parks and recreation, capital improvements and the general fund, while the 0.3 percent income tax helps to pay salaries of municipal employees and generates money for street improvements.

Both renewals are for five years.

In Amsterdam, voters are being asked to renew a 3-mill, five-year property tax for recreation expenses, while Rayland voters are being asked to renew a 4-mill, five-year property tax for current expenses.

In Richmond, voters are being asked to renew a 1-mill, five-year property tax for current expenses.

Tiltonsville voters, meanwhile, are being asked to renew a 4.9-mill, five-year property tax for police protection and a 3-mill, five-year property tax for current expenses.

And, residents in the southern end of Jefferson County will be voting on the renewal of a 2.5-mill, three-year property tax for the Eastern Ohio Regional Transit Authority.

In-person early voting in Ohio ended Sunday, but Gale said that as of Friday, there were still about 150 absentee ballots still out. Those ballots must be returned to the board of elections by 7:30 p.m. Tuesday to be counted, he said, adding the office in the Tower Building at 500 Market St. will be open until that deadline to accept those ballots.

“Do not take absentee ballots to the polls,” he said. “They will not be able to take them.”

Petitions for anyone who is considering running as an independent candidate for the Nov. 3 general election must be returned to the board of elections by 4 p.m. today.

The deadline to register to vote in the Nov. 3 election is Oct. 5.