Tue 9/9 @ 6:30AM-7:30PM
Some people only pay attention to elections when there’s a high-profile presidential race on the ballot. But voting is something you should try to make a habit of.
Local elections may not be all that riveting, and primaries for local elections in an off-off years (odd-numbered years) even less so. There aren’t any big state or national elections in Ohio this year, but often the elections closest to home have the most impact on your everyday life. And many communities in northeast Ohio have city council or mayoral races this year.
The highest profile races are in Cleveland, where Mayor Justin Bibb is running for reelection, and all city council seats are on the ballot, with many being challenged and in two wards, incumbents pitted against each other as the number of wards drops from 17 to 15. Many suburbs also have elections as well and you should learn about the candidates running in your home city and then vote for the ones you think will do the best job.
Cleveland Heights also has a high-profile mayoral race, although most of the drama involves incumbent mayor Kahlil Seren, who failed to make the ballot but will be on the September 9 primary ballot as voters in that city decided whether to recall him a couple of months before his current term expires at the end of the year. If they vote yes, he’ll be gone by the following week.
You can vote early at the board of elections through Sunday September 7. keep in mind that the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections is no longer at East 30th and Euclid Avenue. It’s moved to the former Plain Dealer Building on Superior between East 18th with a huge new parking lot off East 18th and a much more spacious voting floor so voters will no longer have to wait outside if it gets crowded. If you’re voting by mail (no, Trump hasn’t banned it yet), your ballot needs to be postmarked by September 8.
If you’re unclear about what will be on your ballot or whether your city even has a primary or an election this year (you can probably ell by the number of yard signs you see!), or you want to do some advance research (always a good idea), go to your county BOE website. In Cuyahoga it’s https://boe.cuyahogacounty.gov. If you don’t vote, don’t complain when the mayor won’t listen to you!