May primary: here's what to know as early voting begins
Early voting for the May 2 primary election kicks off this week.
Stark County voters can start casting their ballots early in person or by mail beginning April 4.
Here are a few things to know about the election.
What's on the ballot on Stark County?
Five Democrats will face off in the race for Canton mayor, including paralegal Kimberly D. Bell; Ohio NAACP Veterans Affairs Chairman Willis Gordon; Canton City Council President William V. Sherer II; Canton Councilman At-Large Bill Smuckler; and Thomas West, a former state representative and Ward 2 councilman. Roy Scott DePew is the sole Republican running for Canton mayor.
Democratic Mayor Thomas Bernabei is not seeking re-election.
Two countywide renewal levies will be decided during the May election. The Stark County Board of Developmental Disabilities is asking for the renewal of a five-year, 3.3-mill levy for programs and services and facility maintenance. Voters will also decide whether to renew a 0.1-mill levy for the maintenance and operation of the county's 911 system for five years.
Canton City Schools placed a 4.3-mill, $60 million bond issue on the ballot to raise money to build two new elementary schools. In the Louisville City School District, voters will be asked to renew an emergency tax levy that generates $1.83 million annually. The Perry and Lake school districts have additional levies on the ballot.
East Canton voters will see an 8.1-mill levy for the village's police department. Osnaburg Township is seeking three new property taxes − 0.15 mills for cemetery maintenance; a 1.05-mill levy for road maintenance; and 1.3 mills for fire protection.
A number of other levies will appear in communities across the county. Voters can use the Board of Election's "Show Me My Ballot" tool to see what candidates and issues will appear on their ballot.
How can I vote early in person?
Voters can cast their ballots at the Board of Elections office from April 4-30. Here are the hours for early, in-person voting:
April 4-21: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
April 24: 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
April 25: 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
April 26-28: 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
April 29: 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
April 30: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Voters will be required to show a form of identification or complete a paper application. Acceptable forms of identification include an unexpired Ohio driver's license or state identification card with present or former address; military identification; photo identification issued by the United States government or the state of Ohio, containing the voter's name and current address and having an expiration date that has not passed; and a passport.
How do I get an absentee ballot?
Voting by mail takes place from April 4-25.
To receive an absentee ballot, fill out an application form and mail the completed form to the Stark County Board of Elections at 3525 Regent Ave. NE, Canton OH 44705, or put it in the drop box at the office. Once your ballot has been received and processed, you will be mailed your ballot. The Board of Elections will start mailing out ballots April 4. After you fill out your ballot and ID envelope, mail it back to the board.
You can use the "Track My Ballot" feature on the Board of Election's website to check the status of your application and track your ballot.
The U.S. Postage Service estimates that it might take two and five days for your absentee ballot to be delivered to the Board of Elections by mail. Ballots must be postmarked May 1, the day before the election, and received by the board no later than four days after the election. If you return it in person or a near relative delivers it for you, it must be delivered no later than the close of polls on Election Day.
A voter's spouse, father, mother, father-in-law, mother-in-law, grandfather, grandmother, brother, or sister of the whole or half blood, son, daughter, adopting parent, adopted child, stepparent, stepchild, uncle, aunt, nephew, or niece may deliver their ballot to the board.
For any questions, visit the Secretary of State's website or call 330-451-7034.
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Stark County primary election: What you should know
