5 things to know about voter registration, early voting in Portage County

Diane Smith, Record-Courier
·3 min read
Voters cast ballots at Mantua Center School in 2020. Tuesday is the deadline to register to vote in the November election this year.
Voters cast ballots at Mantua Center School in 2020. Tuesday is the deadline to register to vote in the November election this year.

Tuesday is the deadline for voters to register to vote in the November election. Early, in-person voting begins Wednesday.

Here are five things you need to know.

How can I register to vote, and when do I need to register to vote in the November election?

Those who aren't registered to vote, or who need to update their address or other information, must do so by Tuesday in order to vote in the November election. Voters can register online on the Ohio Secretary of State website. Those who aren't sure if they're registered, or who want to make sure they weren't purged from the rolls, can verify that information on the Secretary of State's website.

More:Nearly 3,000 Portage voters purged, most due to inactivity

How can I vote early in Portage County?

Early, in-person voting starts Wednesday, Oct. 12 at the Portage County Board of Elections, located at the first floor of the Portage County Administration Building, 449 S. Meridian St., Ravenna.

Early voting hours are listed below. (As a reminder, daylight saving time ends at 2 a.m. Nov. 6, so we'll "fall back" one hour on that day.)

  • 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 12-14, 17-21 and 24-28

  • 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 29

  • 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 31-Nov. 4;

  • 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 5

  • 1-5 p.m. Nov. 6

  • 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 7

How can I vote by mail?

Those who want to request an absentee ballot be mailed to them should contact the Board of Elections as soon as possible. A printable absentee ballot form can be found on the Board of Elections website and can be mailed to the Board of Elections. Ballots can be returned by mail, or dropped off in a secured drop box outside the Board of Elections.

What candidates are on the ballot?

This is a gubernatorial, midterm election year. In addition to elections for governor and a variety of statewide races, many local candidates are on the ballot. Those include the Portage County Commissioners race, where Democrat Geraldine Hayes Nelson will face Republican Mike Tinlin; the auditor's race, where Democrat Brad Cromes, who is Portage County treasurer, will face Republican Matt Kelly; and the Common Pleas Court, where incumbent Laurie Pittman will face a challenge from Wesley Buchanan. In the 72nd District, State Rep. Gail Pavliga, a Republican, also faces a challenge from Kathleen Clyde, a Democrat who represented the district for eight years. In the 35th District, which includes some of the southern portion of Portage County in addition to parts of Summit and Geauga counties, Democrat Lori O'Neill of Bainbridge will face Republican Steve Demetriou of Chagrin Falls. In congressional races, voters in the 13th district will see a race between Democrat Emilia Sykes and Republican Madison Gesiotto Gilbert, and in the 14th district, incumbent Dave Joyce, a Republican, faces a challenge from Matt Kilboy, a Democrat from Deerfield.

What issues are on the ballot?

Portage County voters will face a variety of issues on the ballot. In addition to two statewide ballot issues, voters will consider an earned income tax in the Waterloo school district, a renewal tax for the Portage County Health District, a ballot initiative reducing marijuana penalties in Kent and charter changes in Streetsboro and Ravenna.

This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: 5 things to know about voter registration, early voting in Portage