Yes, it’s time to vote again. There IS a primary May 3. Sort of.
I don’t blame you for being confused — the goal of the anti-democratic, anti-fair election Republican members of Ohio’s redistricting commission is to sow confusion and depress voter turnout. When fewer people participate, it’s easier to pass extreme laws such as eliminating training and licensing for concealed carry, expanding the “Stand Your Ground” law to say that if someone makes you uncomfortable, you don’t need to leave the scene — you have the right to just shoot them.
Last week, those Republican redistricting committee members passed yet another unconstitutional legislative map ( the one that tells us who our STATE representatives and senators are in Columbus). It was the fourth time they did so, defying requirements that maps be created in public with both parties present and designed to represent the partisan split of the state: about 54 Republican, 46 Democratic. The fourth time, both parties hired professional mapmakers who produced legal maps. Then less than two hours before deadline, the Republicans presented and voted on a map that was basically the previous one, already declared unconstitutional, with some very minor tweaks. Power doesn’t concede easily.
Currently, those mapmakers are fighting contempt charges in the state Supreme Court, but it’s too late to field candidates for legislative races without maps. Early voting has started for May 3. In that primary we’re voting for statewide races — governor, senator, secretary of state, auditor, treasurer and attorney general. We’re voting for county judicial candidates, county executive and county council representatives. We’re also (I think) voting for congressional candidates. There’ll be another primary — sometime — for legislative candidates. The turnout will be stunningly low. That’s a disgrace.
Here’s what the Cuyahoga Board of Elections has to say.
“Early In-Person Voting begins Tuesday April 5, 2022, at 8am. The ballot style voters will utilize to cast their ballot during the first few days of EIP Voting will differ from previous election cycles. This Early In-Person Alternate Voting Plan is due to the ongoing litigation that has permeated the May 3, 2022 Primary Election cycle. Voters during the first few days of EIP Voting will be provided with a PDF form of the ballot that will ultimately be remade by bipartisan teams of employees onto live ballots when they become available. The remade ballots will then be tabulated in the same manner as Vote-by-Mail Ballots. The overall process is similar to how Boards of Elections handle UOCAVA Ballots.”
Don’t feel bad if you’re still confused. We all are. This refers to the fact that the congressional maps are still being challenged in court so although those races are currently on the ballot, those lines could change and votes cast in this races before litigation is resolved might need to be thrown out and revoted in another primary.
Get more information at the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections: https://boe.cuyahogacounty.gov. Assuming anyone shares it with them.
One Response to “Amidst Confusion Caused by Broken Redistricting Process, Early Primary Voting Starts”
Peter Lawson Jones
Just to be clear: although state legislative races will not be on the May 3rd primary, county and federal legislative will be.