Here's our guide to the 2023 election in Portage County and Ohio Issue 1 and 2
It's a local election year in Ohio as residents vote on candidates for school boards, councils and issues, including statewide votes on abortion and recreational marijuana.
In this Voter Guide you'll find candidate responses in their own words and information on those ballot issues.
This guide is a joint project of League of Women Voters and published by the Record-Courier. An interactive guide is available at Vote411.org.
Below you will find links to unedited answers from participating candidates and coverage from our journalists that appears throughout the election.
When, where and how do you vote?
Polls will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Nov. 7.
Early voting continues until Nov. 5 at the Portage County Board of Elections, 449 S. Meridian St., Ravenna. All election boards follow this early voting schedule: Oct. 16-20: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Oct. 23-27: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Oct. 30: 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; Oct. 31: 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.; Nov. 1-3: 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; Nov. 4: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Nov. 5: 1 to 5 p.m.
Can I still register to vote?
No. Voter registration closed Oct. 10. You may still register for future elections.
Ohio Issue 1 — abortion
This November, Ohioans will vote on abortion, contraception and other reproductive decisions. The proposed amendment, called Issue 1 on the Nov. 7 ballot, would enshrine the right to an abortion in the state constitution up until viability, which is the point when a fetus can survive outside the uterus with reasonable measures. This is typically around 24 weeks gestation. Doctors could perform abortions after that point to save a pregnant patient's life or health.
Issue 1: What Ohioans need to know about November ballot issue on abortion
Why am I voting on Issue 1 again? An explanation of abortion on the Ohio ballot
Ohio Issue 2 — recreational marijuana
Ohio voters will decide in November whether the state should legalize recreational marijuana. The proposal from the Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol would establish a new government program with rules for buying, selling, smoking and growing adult-use cannabis. The Nov. 7 ballot measure is an initiated statute, not a constitutional amendment, meaning the Legislature could make adjustments if it passes.
Issue 2: What Ohioans need to know about November ballot issue to legalize recreational marijuana
Forum on Issue 2 Watch discussion on recreational marijuana issue
Portage County candidate information
Kent: City Council Ward 4 and school board races contested
Ravenna: Only one city candidate race contested
Streetsboro: Meet candidates for mayor, council and school board
Aurora: Ward 6 council, school board seats contested
Rural school boards: Crestwood, Southeast school board races
Villages: Mantua, Hiram, Windham feature mayor races
Townships: Meet candidates in contested township elections
Portage County ballot issues
Issues: Here are the 33 issues on Nov. 7 ballot
School levies: 8 Portage school districts seek addition or continued funding from voters in November
Opinion
Issue 1: Here's our analysis of Ohio Issue 1 guaranteeing abortion rights in state's constitution
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: 2023 Election: Which candidates, issues on Portage County ballots
