Early voting about to begin, registration deadline is Tuesday
The Nov. 8 General Election is just around the corner, and the Guernsey County Board of Elections has been busy getting ready for another voting season. For some residents that means voting early or sending in their absentee ballots.
In-person absentee voting will begin in Guernsey County on Wednesday. Those who wish to vote early can do so at the county board of elections office, 627 Wheeling Ave., Cambridge. Director Lori Bamfield is anticipating a 50% (roughly 12,000) estimated turnout for Guernsey County.
"On the 11th, will be the registration deadline. Between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. we'll be in here all day for people to get registered. Once you're registered, if you vote regularly, you don't have to re-register" said Bamfield. Residents will need to update their registration if they've had a name change or moved. So far, the office has received nearly 2,000 requests for absentee ballots. Online registration is also available on the website but must be completed by the 9 p.m. Tuesday. Ballots will be mailed out Wednesday, per state law to those who requested them.
Early voting will begin at 8 a.m. Wednesday. Residents need to bring a form of identification, such as a driver's license or utility bill that has a current address, into the board office to vote. Paper ballots will be available and a sign-in will be required, just like at the polls. Early voting will run through Nov. 8, with the board of elections offering both weekday and weekend hours. Whether residents vote early in the office or a ballot is mailed out, both are considered absentee.
Ballots can be viewed on the Guernsey County Board of Elections website. "The best way to do that is to look up your registration, look at your own specific ballot," Bamfield said. "If you're looking at just a general list, it's giving you every ballot in the county. In Ohio we have rotations, and so the ballot may look different in another precinct because those names rotate." Individual polling locations can also be found on the website.
There is one contested race on the ballot, for Guernsey County auditor. Republican Cory Johnson will face-off against Democrat Miranda Miser. Dave Wilson is running unopposed in the commissioner race, while Judge Padden is also running unopposed in the Court of Common Pleas judge race.
Poll workers are always needed to assist at the various polling locations. Bamfield says "Democrat workers, generally, we need those more because we have a lot of Republicans in the county. So we do need folks to come out. By law, we have to have two Republicans and two Democrats per precinct. Everything we do in Ohio is equal and bipartisan. We work well together in our county. Not every county in the state has the benefit of Democrats and Republicans working together side-by-side."
Those wishing to volunteer their time at the polls can reach out to the election office. Marcia Metcalf, the Deputy Director handles all of the precinct election officials' recruitment. As for results from the November 8 election, residents can check the website for updates.
The Guernsey County Board of Elections office hours for in-person absentee voting will be as follows: Weeks one and two, from Wednesday, Oct. 12 to Friday, Oct, 21 will be 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Week three, Oct. 24 to Oct. 28 will be 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with Saturday, Oct. 29 being available 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Week four, Monday, Oct. 31 to Friday, Nov. 4 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Nov. 6 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., and Nov. 7 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
This article originally appeared on The Daily Jeffersonian: Early voting about to begin, registration deadline is Tuesday
