Important dates ahead for voters
Deadlines are nearing for voter registration and dates have been set for early voting in Ohio for November’s election.
Those who wish to vote early for this year’s general election can do so beginning on Oct. 12 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Washington County Board of Elections Office at 204 Davis Ave., Suite B.
Peggy Byers, deputy director for the Washington County Board of Elections, said early voting can be seen as an advantage.
“Most of us wouldn’t be able to know all of the people that are running on the ballot,” she said. “With early voting you can study the candidates and the decisions they’ve made rather than making an educated guess or just picking a name that you like.”
Tara Hupp, director of the Board of Elections, said early voting is at the voter’s convenience.
“Early voting allows voters the convenience to obtain their ballot and study it and if they vote by mail they can vote in the comfort of their home,” she said. “It also enables them to make sure that they have the opportunity to vote just in case something comes up and they are unable to vote on Election Day.”
This year’s Election Day will be on Nov. 8.
Byers also said for the people who wrote in and asked for the ballots, they will be mailed on Oct. 12 as well.
According to Byers, there are a few ways voters can register for early voting.
“If they want they can use the form that was sent out by the Ohio Secretary of State and they can drop it into our office mailbox,” she said. “They can go on the website and print it out and then drop it in our mailbox or they can call us and we can get it set up for them.”
Registration for voting ends on Oct. 11 at 9 p.m.
The Washington County Board of Elections office is expecting more absentee voters than they have seen in the past two presidential elections in 2008 and 2012.
“At the present time our absentee numbers are currently higher than we have had before,” said Hupp. “However it does remain to be seen how many total we will have by the end of the election.”
According to Hupp, the office has received 3,737 absentee voting applications, not including the voters under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act.
Hupp said they have received a total of 55 UOCAVA absentee voter application requests.
The office has sent out four applications to military abroad voters, 27 military voters and 24 overseas voters.
In 2008 there was a total of 8,534 absentee voters in Washington County.
There was 27 military abroad voters, 49 military voters and 12 overseas voters.
In 2012, there was an increase resulting in 9,631 absentee voters.
During the 2012 election year there was 10 military abroad voters, 25 overseas voters and 48 military voters.
Hupp said she believes this year’s increase could be a result of the absentee ballot applications that were mailed out by the Ohio Secretary of State’s Office to every registered active voter.
“This would definitely increase the numbers, as normally voters must call our office or visit our website and obtain an application to complete and mail to us,” said Hupp. “Also, this election does not have an incumbent candidate running for president and the election has generated a lot of interest.”
The Washington County ballot will have issues such as a levy to provide new funds to operate the 911 system, a senior services levy, the bond issue and tax levy for the Warren Local school district and new fire and emergency protection and emergency medical services in Wesley Township.
There are also several local contested races, including for Washington County Commissioner and Washington County Common Pleas Judge.
The Board of Elections office will be accepting applications for mail out absentee voting until Nov. 5 at noon.
“We will also mail the ballots on Nov.5, but the voter must either have the ballot postmarked the day before the election on Nov. 7, or they may hand deliver it to our office by Nov. 8, by 7:30 p.m.,” said Hupp.
According to Hupp, the last day for early voting will be Nov. 7 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
After 2 p.m. on Nov. 7 voters may only vote at their designated precinct on Election Day on Nov. 8 from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
The Board of Elections office will also begin poll worker training on Oct. 11 at 10 a.m., 3:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Byers said the training is in-depth with several rules to go over.
“We try to hit everything possible such as absentees, name changes and there are many rules that are very important to go over,” she said. “We try to hold the class down for only two hours.”
To be a poll worker for this election Byers said people can show up at any poll worker training time at the Board of Elections Office or they can call 740-374-6828.
Important dates
¯ Oct. 11- Voter registration deadline.
¯ Oct. 12 -Early voting begins from 8 a.m.- 5 p.m.
¯ Oct. 12 to 14 from 8 a.m.- 5 p.m.
¯ Oct. 17 to 21 from 8 a.m.- 5 p.m.
¯ Oct. 24 to 28 from 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.
¯ Oct. 29 from 8 a.m.- 4 p.m.
¯ Oct. 30 from 1 – 5 p.m.
¯ Oct. 31 to Nov. 4 from 8 a.m.- 7 p.m.
¯ Nov. 5 from 8 a.m.- 4 p.m.
¯ Nov. 6 from 1- 5 p.m.
¯ Nov. 7 from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. and absentee voting ends.
¯ Nov. 8- Election Day. Voters must go to your precinct to vote from 6:30 a.m.- 7:30 p.m.
Poll worker training:
¯ All poll worker training classes will be at the Washington County Board of Elections Office
¯ Oct.11- Training times are at 10 a.m., 3:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.
¯ Oct. 12- 3:30 and 7 p.m.
¯ Oct. 13- 3:30 and 7 p.m.
¯ Oct. 17- 3:30 p.m.
¯ Oct. 19- 3:30 and 7 p.m.
Where to go
¯ The Washington County Board of Elections office is located at 204 Davis Ave., Suite B in Marietta and can be contacted at 740-374-6828.
¯ Office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.
¯ For further information visit the Board of Elections website at washingtongov.org