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DAVID BETRAS: Why you should vote in Ohio’s special election

By David Betras
“Ohio Voted” stickers await voters after they cast their ballots at the Meadowbook Golf Club in Clayton, Ohio Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
“Ohio Voted” stickers await voters after they cast their ballots at the Meadowbook Golf Club in Clayton, Ohio Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy) Michael Conroy AP

As most of my readers know, one of my vocations, serving as the chair of the Mahoning County Board of Elections, enables me to engage in one of my lifelong avocations: politics.

During my 11 years on the Board, I have gained immense respect for the women and men who tirelessly tend to the machinery that drives our democracy.

But I have never been more in awe of their talent and dedication than I am now as we work together to prepare to conduct two countywide elections in the space of the three months for the second year in a row.

In addition to that daunting — and totally unanticipated — task, we were also responsible for checking the validity of the 13,379 signatures gathered in the county by backers of the Reproductive Freedom amendment to Ohio’s Constitution which will appear on the November General Election ballot and are dealing with an influx of early in-person and mail-in voting on Issue 1, the proposal that would raise the threshold for approving initiated amendments from the century-old 50% plus one vote standard to a 60% supermajority.

As I noted in this space on May 20, Republicans were hoping to sneak Issue 1, which undermines the principle of majority rule, past Ohioans in a low turnout election. If the number of early voters here and across the state are any indication, their strategy isn’t working.

To honor all the hard work, we’ve done at the Board and to protect democracy, I want to encourage everyone to cast a ballot now or on August 8. Here is how you can make your voice heard and your vote count:

Vote by mail

  • If you have a mail-in ballot but haven’t sent it back to us, it must be postmarked no later than Monday, Aug. 7 or your vote will not be counted.

  • You may also bring your completed ballot the to BOE office which is located at 345 Oak Hill Ave. in Youngstown and deposit it in the dropbox located outside or walk in and give it to a member of the BOE staff. Either way, it must be turned in before the polls close at 7:30 pm on Aug. 8 or your vote will not be counted.

Vote early in-person

You may vote early in person at the Board until Sunday, August 6. The polls will be open:

  • Aug. 4: 7:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.

  • Aug. 5: 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.

  • Aug. 6: 1 - 5 p.m.

Vote on Election Day, Tuesday, Aug. 8

The polls will be open on Tuesday, Aug. 8, from 6:30 am – 7:30 pm. If you’re not sure where to vote, click here to find your polling place.

Important notice about ID requirements for in-person voting

Ohio has enacted new, stringent ID requirements for people who are voting early or on election day. To vote, you must present one of these forms of valid ID:

  • Ohio driver’s license;

  • State of Ohio ID card;

  • Interim ID form issued by the Ohio BMV;

  • A US passport;

  • A US passport card;

  • US military ID card;

  • Ohio National Guard ID card; or

  • US Department of Veterans Affairs ID card

All photo IDs must have the following:

  • An expiration date that has not passed;

  • A photograph of the voter;

  • The voter’s name, which must be the same as the voter’s name they used to register to vote

An unexpired Ohio Driver’s License, State ID Card, or Interim Documentation with your former address is an acceptable form of ID when your current address is the same as what was used to register to vote.

Ohio law does not allow the following forms of ID to be used for voting:

  • Driver’s license or photo identification card issued by a state other than Ohio

  • Social Security card

  • Birth certificate

  • Insurance card

  • Utility bill

  • Bank statement

  • Government check

  • Paycheck

  • Other government document or

  • Any registration acknowledgment notice from the county board of elections

OK, you’re all set, you now know everything you need to know to cast your ballot. Don’t waste the opportunity to exercise your power to determine the future.

Vote.

David J. Betras can be reached at 330-746-8484 or dbetras@bkmlaws.com. Read more David Betras columns here.

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This story was originally published August 4, 2023 at 9:13 AM.