Apr 3, 2022
Trumbull County Board of Elections seasonal employee Richard Benner of Fowler tests an e-poll book device on Friday before sending the devices out to polling sites. Early voting begins Tuesday despite confusion about the May 3 primary because of statewide legislative maps. A second primary for statewide offices could be in August, when special elections normally take place.
With early voting for the May 3 primary beginning Tuesday, the confusion over what’s on and off the ballot and a second primary could depress turnout, Mahoning Valley election officials say.
Director Stephanie Penrose of the Trumbull County Board of Elections said she was anticipating turnout for the primary around 30 percent, but before a single vote is cast she lowered it to 20 to 25 percent.
“There is a lot of interest in the governor, Senate, county commissioner races from both parties,” she said. “I was expecting a bigger turnout, but it will dwindle with the uncertainty. I don’t want to scare voters away, but we don’t know what will happen.”
Director Thomas McCabe of the Mahoning County Board of Elections said: “This is causing complete confusion for people. I get asked all the time, ‘What’s happening with the election?’ I say, ‘Count on May 3 unless told otherwise.’”
McCabe expects turnout to be in the low 20 percent range.
Turnout in Mahoning and Trumbull counties during the past two statewide primaries has been low.
In 2018, it was 24.81 percent in Mahoning and 24.98 percent in Trumbull. In 2014, it was 21.86 percent in Mahoning and 20.45 percent in Trumbull.
SECOND PRIMARY
The state legislative and state central committee candidates won’t be on the May 3 ballot.
Secretary of State Frank LaRose wrote in a Thursday letter that those races will be on a separate ballot, most likely Aug. 2, which is the date for special elections. The state Legislature would set the date for that second primary.
Penrose and McCabe said they would strongly prefer one primary.
“Turnout for a second primary will really fall off,” Penrose said.
A second primary could cost about $20 million to $25 million, LaRose said.
“People will be mad at the cost to put on two primaries,” Penrose said. “As a taxpayer, it upsets me.”
Penrose and McCabe also said in addition to the cost and poor turnout for a second primary, it also will be difficult to secure the needed poll workers and polling locations for it.
“In the summer, a lot of people will be on vacation, and the locations may not be available,” McCabe said. “We may have to look to move the locations for a second primary and then move back to the regular locations for the November election. Turnout will plummet in the second primary. (The state Legislature) needs to get their act together and figure this out.”
McCabe said he has heard a suggestion of having the second primary through only mail-in ballots, which would reduce the cost and need for workers and polling locations.
Penrose and McCabe said they are preparing for early voting to start Tuesday.
Penrose said she has ordered ballots and assured they will be available Tuesday morning.
Also, ballots are supposed to be mailed starting Tuesday to those who’ve requested them.
McCabe said the Mahoning board uses touch-screen machines at its early voting center and will mail ballots to those who’ve requested them starting Tuesday or Wednesday.
EARLY VOTING
HOURS
Early in-person voting is 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday to Friday, as well as April 11 to 15 and April 18 to 22. It is 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. April 25 to 29.
Early voting on April 30, the Saturday before the May 3 primary, is 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Trumbull board is renting space at a vacant building at 2911 Youngstown Warren Road SE, Warren, for its early voting center. It is next door to the board offices.
It is 1 to 5 p.m. May 1 and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 2.
The Mahoning early voting center is at Oakhill Renaissance Place, 345 Oak Hill Ave., Youngstown.
Polling locations are open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. May 3.
Because a second primary date hasn’t been determined the early voting days are unknown.
REGISTRATION DEADLINE
County election boards in Ohio will remain open until 9 p.m. Monday to allow people to register to vote in the general election. It’s the last day to register for that election for those who aren’t already registered voters.
The Trumbull office is at 2947 Youngstown Road SE, Warren.
The Mahoning office is at Oakhill Renaissance Place, 345 Oak Hill Ave., Youngstown.
To register in person, you need either your driver’s license number or the last four digits of your Social Security number.
People also can register online at voteohio.gov, the Ohio secretary of state’s website, by Monday.
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