Voting has started, and Ohioans must seek facts to pick senator, other candidates

It’s that creepy season when ads with sallow, brooding faces and frightening messages fill the TV screen and scroll across computer screens.

A few are for Halloween attractions. Most of the ads are part of nerve-wracking political campaigns.

It’s all leading up to Election Day on Nov. 8, when Akron-area voters will choose a U.S. senator for Ohio, 13th District Congress member and many other state, county and local candidates, and decide on two state issues and local issues.

Early voting for the November general election started Wednesday at county boards of elections around Ohio, and absentee ballots that were requested were starting to arrive at homes.

So, it’s clear an election is coming. Sure, we can press the “mute” button when the annoying ads play, but it would be nice if they were less dramatic and more informative.

Proponents of Republican Senate candidate J.D. Vance have come up with the “taxin’ Tim Ryan” slogan, while Democratic candidate Ryan is now calling Vance an “ass kisser.”

Such tags were a trademark of President Donald Trump, who never tired of poking fun at “Sleepy Joe” Biden, “Crooked Hillary” Clinton and “Pocahontas” Elizabeth Warren, among many others.

Were his labels way off or on the mark? Depends on which side you’re on. But nobody would call it civil.

So many ads and campaigns are negative today — a trend we’ll have to admit didn’t start with Trump. The ads tell you why shouldn’t vote for the opponent, but often tell you little about the real accomplishments and character of the other person.

A televised debate between Vance and Ryan on Monday did provide more insight, with the candidates talking about abortion, inflation, trade, foreign policy and the southern border. Each got in memorable digs, with neither candidate emerging as a clear winner.

That, along with a newly released poll, means the suspense is continuing. Ryan and Vance are in a dead heat, according to Emerson College Polling/The Hill survey results of Ohio voters released Wednesday.

Polling conducted Oct. 6 and 7 shows 46% plan to vote for Vance, 45% plan to vote for Ryan and 9% are undecided. (In the election for governor, Republican incumbent Mike DeWine leads Democrat Nan Whaley 50% to 36%, the Emerson pollsters report.)

Much is at stake in these and other races. Nationally, the key question is whether Democrats or Republicans will control Congress.

But many other races face voters, including ones for spots on the state legislature, Summit County Council and judges for the state Supreme Court, appeals court and county courts.

We’re glad when ads make people more curious about an election and they turn to reputable media and websites for more information. Voters have a responsibility to search for the truth and decide what really matters in a candidate.

Here are some helpful websites with more information.

The interactive Voter Guide on the Beacon Journal website is a joint project of League of Women Voters of Akron and Hudson and the Akron Beacon Journal and was made possible through the support of the Knight Foundation.

Vote 411 from the League of Women Voters Education Fund, as well as local leagues, have information on candidates. But sadly, many candidates skeptical about the group’s intentions are skipping the nonpartisan LWV’s questionnaires.

The Akron Bar Association has evaluated local judicial candidates and made recommendations on its “You Be the Judge” website. It also contains links to the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association's Judge 4 Yourself website, which includes evaluations of Supreme Court candidates; the Summit County Board of Elections; and more.

And of course, Beacon Journal staffers and other journalists throughout Ohio and the nation continue to write articles bringing voters necessary information.

Don’t let wild claims and annoying ads discourage you. Find out more about the candidates and vote.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Ohio voters need more than campaign ads to make sound choices