New polling shows Ohio voters see library services as “everyday necessities,” among the highest rated services offered at the local level.

Polling conducted by Public Opinion Strategies on behalf of the Ohio Library Council and the Ohio Township Association showed 90% of participating voters found public libraries “important to the community.”

Voters praised the access to programs for Ohioans of all kinds, along with low-income resident assistance, learning, technology, and engagement. This time of year in particular, libraries also serve as resources for tax services.

“Ohioans don’t just appreciate their libraries, they rely on them on a daily basis,” said Michelle Francis, executive director of the Ohio Library Council, in a statement on the study. “They are locally supported, widely used, and deeply embedded in their communities.”

Of those interviewed for the survey, 44% said they or a family member have utilized public library services in the past month, and nearly 70% said they received help from the public library. This number included a majority of Republican, Democrat, and independent voters, according to the report.
“Nearly 9 out of 10 Ohio voters believe they get their money’s worth in services from their local libraries for the taxes they pay, including 83% of Republicans, 85% of independents, and 93% of Democrats,” researchers stated

Data from the Ohio Library Council said Ohioans visit state libraries more than 48 million times per year, and more than 7 million Ohioans have library cards.

Ohio libraries receive much of their funding from the state’s Public Library Fund, which comes out of the General Revenue Fund. In the most recent state budget, lawmakers changed the funding mechanism from a percentage of the General Revenue Fund’s tax revenue to a lump sum. For fiscal year 2026, that amounted to $490 million in state funding, and $500 million in 2027. Library advocates including the council opposed the move to a lump sum, expressing concern that the line-item could be more at risk for total elimination at any time now that it’s not a percentage of the budget.

The State Library of Ohio also took a cut in the state budget, according to State Librarian Mandy Knapp. The SLO isn’t a public library, but works as a resource-sharing partner with other libraries in the state, along with providing grant funding. The fate of that grant funding was unclear last year as the Trump administration attempted to slash funding for the Institute of Museum and Library Services, through which the State Library of Ohio receives the funding for local grants.

Knapp previously told the Capital Journal that the grant funds are used for summer reading programs, cultural conservation efforts, and implementation of the Science of Reading in library programs.

In November, a federal court blocked the dismantling to the institute, averting a funding cut that Knapp said would “totally and utterly devastate” the library.

The polling also analyzed public opinion of township services across the state, and found that less than half of participants knew the funding model for townships, which is primarily funded through property taxes. They also receive some state funding through the Local Government Fund, though that fund has dwindled over the years.

“Township governments exist to provide the services residents count on most,” said Heidi M. Fought, executive director of the Ohio Township Association, in a statement. “Local funding allows communities to decide what works best for them.”

According to the County Commissioners Association of Ohio, after the Local Government Fund was frozen from 2001 to 2008, it was returned to the state budget, set to receive 3.68% of the tax revenue from the General Revenue Fund. The fund took a major hit during the Great Recession because of lower tax revenue, and lawmakers reduced the fund by 50% in the 2012-2013 budget.

In the 2014-2015 fiscal year, the fund saw 1.66% of tax revenue, far below the 3.68% of 2008. The fund saw marginal increases in the years that followed, and eventually went up to 1.7% starting in 2023.

The most recent budget boosted that fund to 1.75% of the GRF, despite advocates like the County Commissioners Association of Ohio requesting that the legislature return the fund to past levels with a boost to 3.68%.

A vast majority of voters polled in the recent study said local voters “should be responsible for deciding how to allocate township services.”

Voters said first responder services like the fire department and ambulances were among the top priorities for funding, along with maintenance of roads and bridges, and police departments.

In both the library and township services, more than half of voters said the two areas “provide many of the basic services people rely on today,” according to the study.

This story originally appeared at ohiocapitaljournal.com.

The post Polling shows Ohio public libraries have vast voter support appeared first on Cincinnati CityBeat.

Ohio House lawmakers have approved a measure aimed at banning ranked choice voting. Under the bill, no state election may be conducted with ranked choice and any local government that decides to use a ranked choice system would forfeit state dollars.

Ohio Senate Bill 63 passed the state Senate last May with bipartisan support. The 63-27 vote in state House drew the backing of two Democrats — Ohio state Reps. Lauren McNally, D-Youngstown, and Daniel Troy, D-Willowick. The measure leverages the Local Government Fund, a critical source of revenue for counties and cities around the state, to warn off local ranked choice efforts.

In written statement before the floor vote, Rank the Vote Ohio Executive Director Denise Riley said threatening local funding amounts to coercion. And she expressed disappointment that lawmakers banned the practice when no municipality in the state is actually using it yet. Two cities, Lakewood and Cleveland Heights, have been considering whether to put the practice on the ballot.

As a general matter, Riley argued transferring voters’ support in a ranked choice system “fixes a lot of problems.”

“No more spoilers. No more “wasted votes.” And it encourages positive campaigns, according to the American Bar Association Task Force for American Democracy.”

House lawmakers tacked on an amendment clarifying the petition papers a political candidate submits to make the ballot are a public record. The bill now returns to the Senate.

Floor debate

Ohio state Rep. Sharon Ray, R-Wadsworth, warned ranked choice voting “presents significant implementation problems.”

The approach gives voters the option to select multiple candidates for a single office in order of their preference. Under a typical system, the lowest performing candidate gets eliminated in successive rounds. But if the voters who backed that eliminated candidate have additional candidates listed on their ballot, their vote gets transferred to their next choice in the following round.

Ray, who previously served on the Medina County Board of Elections, pointed to warnings from the Ohio secretary of state.

“While some voting machines might be able to accept the software update needed to tabulate grant choice voting, the update would be significant and costly,” Ray said. “Boards of elections that have older machines would most likely have to be replaced.”

Ohio state Rep. Ron Ferguson, R-Wintersville, warned ranked choice tabulation can take days or even weeks, and offered a tortured defense of the “one person, one vote” principle.

“We aren’t voting for three or four or five people. We’re voting for one person,” he said. “That’s the foundation of this republic.”

Although ranked choice systems allow a voter’s preference to be reflected in multiple rounds of tabulation, that voter still only gets one vote.

Rep. Adam Bird pointed to research suggesting ranked choice doesn’t reduce political polarization and might dilute minority voter representation. He added the public education campaign that would be needed for a new ranked choice system could be expensive.

More than anything, though, he voiced frustration with the idea of transferring votes.

“I can point to Alaska,” he said. “This happened in 2022, where there were three candidates, the two Republican candidates got 60 to 70% of the vote. But yet, after the process is implemented, the Democrat wins that.”

“In Maine in 2018,” Bird continued, “the Republican wins the first round but gets less than 50% of the vote because of the presence of two independents in the process. And so after you have exhausted ballots, you end up with a Democrat who wins that.”

It’s true that in Maine, a Republican got a plurality in the first round, and in successive rounds, the Democrat pulled ahead. But that cuts against Bird’s argument in Alaska.

The 2022 election cycle was closely watched because former Republican nominee for Vice President Sarah Palin decided to run in a special election for the U.S. House. If Bird was referring to that race, it’s true that the GOP candidates combined got a majority of votes in the first round, but the Democrat, former U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola got the most votes of any candidate. In successive rounds, her margins grew until she cleared 50%.

When she ran again in that year’s general election, Peltola won again and actually improved on her margins.

Pushback

The only lawmaker to speak out against the proposal was Ohio state Rep. Ashley Bryant Bailey, D-Cincinnati. She argued the version of ranked choice Cincinnati used for local elections from 1925 to 1957 helped boost minority representation.

“This system reduced the domination of a single political machine and made Council representation more proportional,” Bryant Bailey said. “Under that system, African American candidates began being elected to council.”

One beneficiary was Ted Berry, who went on to become Cincinnati’s first Black mayor, Bryant Bailey explained.

She pushed back on Bird’s research, explaining she’d seen plenty of peer-reviewed studies demonstrating minorities do just fine, and maybe even participate at higher rates, under ranked choice.

“We all can find something to validate our plans,” Bryant Bailey said.

She concluded by explaining she’s not advocating for a ranked choice system and that she didn’t believe the debate was actually about ranked choice.

“This bill is not about protecting voters. It’s about control,” she said. “What this bill does is effectively ban ranked choice, but more than that, it tells our cities and our voters that we do not trust them to govern themselves.”

This story originally appeared at ohiocapitaljournal.com.

The post Ohio House votes to stamp out ranked choice voting before it begins appeared first on Cincinnati CityBeat.

Thus far, there are a few issues to be listed on a voter’s ballot for the upcoming May primary.

While the ballot language won’t be official until approval from the secretary of state on March 6 at 4 p.m., there are several school, township and city issues you may be coming across.

Why is the ballot not final until that date?

“The reason that we have to wait for that is that there’s still a possibility that someone could file a charter amendment, and so that might change the order of the issues, and therefore change the number [of each issue],” said Director of the Hamilton County Board of Elections Sherry Poland.

Below is a PDF of the current issues on the ballot. The ballot will be made official 60 days before the election on March 6.

School Issues

There are three school districts seeking money to aid their current expenses.

Mt. Healthy City School District is seeking an indefinite .75 earnings tax on residents within their school district. 

The Board of Education believes an income tax on taxable income may be the best means to adequately meet the necessary requirements of  the school district, according to a resolution declaring it necessary to annually raise an additional amount for school districts purposes. This document is written by Mt. Healthy School board.

The document states the amount of taxes which may be raised within the 10-mill limitation tax levies they currently receive will be insufficient to provide an adequate amount of money for necessary requirements.

The North College Hill City School District is also looking to aid their current expenses. They are seeking 1.25% of earnings tax over the following five years.

Southwest Local City School District is seeking a new tax levy lasting five years. This levy is for four mills. A four-mill tax levy generates $4 in tax revenue for every $1,000 of a property’s assessed value.

City issues

The City of Reading is seeking a tax levy of 5.89 mills. This tax levy asks $5.89 in revenue for every $1,000 of a property’s assessed value.

The money will be used for the issuance of bonds for municipal facilities, the levy, if passed, would last 28 years.

In section 1 of the resolution declaring the necessity of issuing bonds, it declares this tax levy is necessary to issue bonds of Reading’s city council in the principal amount of $27,000,000 for the purpose of site acquisition, new construction, improvements, renovations and additions to municipal facilities, and providing equipment, furnishings and site improvements.

Township Issues

Delhi Township is seeking a 3.2-mill tax levy, providing $3.2 for each $1,000 of assessed property, indefinitely from residents.

The money would support fire and emergency services within Delhi. 

“This is an emergency resolution for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety or welfare of the township,” states section 3 of the township’s resolution declaring the necessity of this levy.

The post What issues will be on the ballot for the May primary? appeared first on Cincinnati CityBeat.

There are 105 candidates running for office during this year’s midterm elections, spread out between the federal, state and local level.

It’s easy to get confused with such an influx of information, but don’t worry — we’re here to help you understand who’s who and what’s on your ballot. 

Click here for a list of key election dates, from registering to vote to requesting your absentee ballot.

Federal elections

Special Election for U.S. Senate

Primary: May 5, 2026 

General: Nov. 3, 2026

This state-wide special election is being held to fill the federal Senate seat vacated by J.D. Vance when he became vice president. The pre-primary field is crowded, and will likely be quite competitive.

The incumbent is Sen. Jon Husted, the former lieutenant governor of the state. The candidate with the most name recognition is likely former Ohio senator Sherrod Brown, who is back in the running following his 2024 loss to Sen. Bernie Moreno. Brown faces a primary challenge from local disability activist Ron Kincaid. 

The race also includes four third party candidates: Jeffrey Kanter and Bill Redpath will face off during the Libertarian primary, while Gregory Levy represents the Party for Socialism and Liberation, and Stephen Faris is running an independent write-in campaign.

District 1 U.S. House Elections 

Primary: May 5, 2026

General: Nov. 3, 2026

This House race pits former Cincinnati councilman and current incumbent Rep. Greg Landsman against a wide field vying for his seat in Washington, including a primary challenge from nonprofit executive Damon Lynch.  District 1 occupies most of Cincinnati and the outlying areas of Hamilton and Warren counties. 

The Republican ticket is a four-way primary challenge between sales manager Holly Adams, Air Force and CIA veteran Eric Conory, dentist Dr. Steven Erbeck, and nonprofit founder and educator Dr. Rosemary Oglesby-Henry. 

The winners of the Democratic and Republican primaries will face Libertarian candidate John Hancock. 

District 8 U.S. House Elections 

Primary: May 5, 2026

General: November 3, 2026

Incumbent Rep. Warren Davidson is currently serving his fifth term in the House, following his appointment to the seat after former House Speaker John Boehner resigned in 2015. District 8 is made up of many of the western suburbs of Cincinnati, including Cheviot, Mount Healthy and Woodlawn; as well as Butler, Darke and Preble counties.

Davidson will face the winner of May’s Democratic party primary election, which will be between Cincinnati-based CEOs Vanessa Enoch and Madaris Grant. 

State Elections

Governor

Primary: May 5, 2026

General: Nov. 3, 2026

Current Gov. Mike DeWine will be unable to run again following the end of his second term, so this election lacks an incumbent candidate. DeWine has endorsed former Roivant Sciences CEO and Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy to fill his seat. Despite that endorsement, Ramaswamy is facing two primary challengers: CEO Heather Hill and nonprofit founder Casey Putsch.

The winner of the Republican primary will face Democratic candidate and former Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Amy Acton, as well as Libertarian candidate and former auto/HVAC worker Don Kissick. 

Independent candidate Tim Grady is a public affairs student at The Ohio State University. 

Lieutenant Governor 

Primary: May 5, 2026

General: Nov. 3, 2026

Unsurprisingly, the election for lieutenant governor is tied to the election for governor — whichever candidate wins that race, their running-mate will win this race.

Dr. Acton has picked former state Democratic Party chairman and Cincinnati councilman David Pepper as her teammate, while Hill has chosen Air Force veteran Stuart Moats, and Putsch has chosen Cloudality CEO Kim Georgeton.

Ramaswamy is running alongside state Sen. Robert McColly, and Kissick has selected James Mills. Independent candidate Tim Grady, meanwhile, has chosen substitute teacher and Army veteran Andrea Neutzling.

Attorney General

Primary: May 5, 2026

General: Nov. 3, 2026

Current A.G. Dave Yost is at the end of his second term, which means he is ineligible to hold the office again.

Instead, State Auditor Keith Faber is running for the office. He faces two Democratic party challengers; former state Rep. Elliot Forhan and Upper Arlington city councilman John Kulewicz. 

Secretary of State

Primary: May 5, 2026

General: Nov. 3, 2026

Current Secretary of State Frank LaRose, facing the end of his second term, has decided to run for state auditor, leaving current State Treasurer Robert Sprauge to run for secretary.

Sprauge is challenged by both Democrats, Libertarians and Republicans; including current state Rep. C. Allison Russo, local hematologist Dr. Bryan Hambley, and Toledo-based perennial candidate Tom Pruss. Sprauge even faces a challenger from within his own party, Air Force veteran Marcell Strbich. 

State Auditor

General: Nov. 3, 2026

This election pits current Maple Heights mayor Annette Blackwell against current Secretary of State Frank LaRose for the office of auditor; putting them in charge of financially investigating public bureaucratic bodies throughout the state.

State Treasurer

Primary: May 5, 2026

General: Nov. 3, 2026

Cincinnati City Councilman Seth Walsh finds himself running against both Jay Edwards (a veteran of the state House of Representatives) and Kristina Daley-Roegner (a veteran of the state Senate) for the office of treasurer.

If elected, either of the three would be put in charge of the state’s $249 billion dollar budget. 

Ohio Supreme Court (Brunner’s Seat)

Primary: May 5, 2026

General: Nov. 3, 2026

The only state-wide elected Democrat in Ohio, Justice Jennifer Brunner has held her spot on the bench since 2021.

This year, she faces four Republican challengers: Judge Andrew King of the Fifth District Court of Appeals, Judge Jill Flagg Lanzinger of the Ninth District Court of Appeals, Judge Ronald Lewis of the Second District Court of Appeals, and federal immigration Judge Colleen O’Donnell. 

Ohio Supreme Court (Hawkins’ Seat)

General: Nov. 3, 2026

Justice Dan Hawkins has served on the Ohio Supreme Court since 2024. This year he faces a Democratic challenger; Judge Marilyn Zayas of the First District Court of Appeals. 

District 9 State Senator 

General: Nov. 3, 2026

This undisputed election for state Senate covers much of Cincinnati and central Hamilton county. Incumbent Sen. Catherine Ingraham has held the seat since 2021. 

District 24 State Representative

General: Nov. 3, 2026

This undisputed race for state House covers a similar area to the Senate’s 9th district; including most of Cincinnati. Unchallenged incumbent state Rep. Dani Isaacson has held the seat since 2023. 

District 25 State Representative

General: Nov. 3, 2026

Incumbent Rep. Cecil Thomas is running an undisputed race for the State House, covering a district that includes multiple northern Cincinnati neighborhoods, including Clifton and Camp Washington.

Thomas has been in office since 2023. 

District 26 State Representative

General: November 3, 2026

Incumbent Rep. Ashley Bryant Bailey will be defending her seat in the State House from former state representative and national Senate candidate Tom Brinkman Jr.

Bryant Bailey’s district is spread across eastern Cincinnati, from Hyde Park to Mariemont, even including a bit of Mt. Washington. 

District 27 State Representative

General: Nov. 3, 2026

A first-time candidate, and the current president of wealth management business Clarita, Elizabeth Maier is seeking to challenge incumbent Rep. Rachel Baker for her seat in the State House.

The district includes the Indian Hill and Reading neighborhoods around the eastern edge of the city.

District 28 State Representative 

General: Nov. 3, 2026

Though she’s only held office for a little over a year, incumbent Rep. Karen Brownlee now faces a general election challenge by Blue Ash mayor Jill Cole — whose city lies at the heart of the district. 

District 29 State Representative 

General: Nov. 3, 2026

This election sees incumbent Rep. Cindy Adams defending her State House seat from Jonathan Bradner, a pastor at Immanuel United Church of Christ.

Rep. Adams’ district covers some of the far western suburbs of Cincinnati; from Northgate to the Indiana state line. 

District 30 State Representative 

General: Nov. 3, 2026

Stretching from Covedale all the way past Cleves, incumbent Rep. Mike Odioso’s district lies over much of the river front south-western area of Cincinnati. Odioso is being challenged by first-time candidate and public administration student Caleb Price. 

District 1 Court of Appeals Judge

General: Nov. 3, 2026

Judge Ginger Bock is running an undisputed race for the state First District Court of Appeals. Bock has been on the bench since 2021. 

County Elections

County Commissioner 

Primary: May 5, 2026

General: Nov. 3, 2026

The former mayor of Forest Park, Commissioner Stephanie Summerow Dumas, is the first woman of color to be elected to a county commissioner position in the history of Ohio. She is facing a challenge from Jonathan Pearson, owner of Pearson Turf & Landscaping, who lost the 2024 Hamilton County Commissioner election to Commissioner Alicia Reese. Summerow Dumas is also facing a primary challenge from city council member Meeka Owens and former mayoral candidate Dr. Herman Najoli, who is running as both a Democrat and Independent.

County Auditor

Primary: May 5, 2026

General: Nov. 3, 2026

Incumbent Hamilton County auditor Jessica Miranda is facing an independent challenge from former State House candidate Regina Collins. 

Court of Common Pleas Elections

In the state of Ohio, all magistrates and attorneys wishing to join the bench of the county Court of Common Pleas must participate in a partisan primary election, followed by a non-partisan general election.

Judges from different divisions within the court can choose to run for a seat within another division, but must also participate in the primary. 

Court of Common Pleas Judge (General Division)

Primary: May 5, 2026

General: Nov. 3, 2026

The Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas has 14 active judges on it. Those marked as incumbents below are up for re-election this year, while those that aren’t are not active judges on the court. 

Who’s Running?

Democrats

Jennifer Branch (Incumbent)

Wende Cross (Incumbent)

William Gallagher

Alison Hatheway (Incumbent)

Sarah Henry

Manisha Kotian 

Latoya Maley 

Christian Jenkins (Incumbent) 

Donte Johnson

Alan Triggs (Incumbent) 

Chris Wagner (Incumbent) 

Republicans

Katie Casch (Incumbent)

Leah Dinkelacker (Incumbent) 

Robert Goering (Incumbent)

Chris McDowell (Incumbent) 

Court of Common Pleas Judge (Drug Court Division)

General: Nov. 3, 2026

This uncontested election will appoint Judge Nicole Sanders to the Hamilton Country Drug Treatment and Recovery Court, the only full-time court of its kind in the state. 

Sanders has sat on the bench since 2021. 

Court of Common Pleas Judge (Probate Division)

Primary: May 5, 2026

General: November 3, 2026

The Hamilton County Probate Court serves many of the legal needs for the county’s residents; including birth and death certificates, declarations of paternity, name changes, and will deposits.

Incumbent judge Ralph Winkler is facing a challenge from local attorney Elizabeth Tye-Bristol. Winkler has sat on the bench since 2015. 

Court of Common Pleas Judge (Juvenile Division)

Primary: May 5, 2026

General: Nov. 3, 2026

The Hamilton County Juvenile Court hears cases with children as a legal feature; including criminal delinquency cases, custody hearings, and child support cases.

Incumbent judge Kari Bloom is facing a challenge by magistrate Susan Luken, who currently serves as the assistant administrator for the probate court. Bloom has sat on the bench since 2021. 

Court of Common Pleas Judge (Domestic Relations Division)

General: Nov. 3, 2026

The Hamilton County Domestic Relations Court covers all aspects of family law not pertaining to children.

Magistrate Tiffany Evans is running unopposed in this election.

Party Central Committee Elections

In Ohio, voters elect the members of their party’s central committee.

As stated by the Ohio Secretary of State’s office, a committee member is “…the first line of contact with residents of your precincts when they are concerned with local issues that may affect their community.”

Committee members also recruit and appoint precinct election officials during election season. During the primary, voters will vote for one male and one female member, to ensure gender equality on the committee. 

For a full list of Democratic Central Committee candidates, click here; for a list of Republican candidates, here, and Libertarian candidates, here.

This article was edited at 4:39 PM on March 3, 2026 to remove mention of some candidates who were no longer in contention.

The post What’s on your ballot? appeared first on Cincinnati CityBeat.

Voting can be … complicated.

And while the state of Ohio has made strides to make the process easier over the years, here are some answers to questions you might have as you navigate the process and create your voting plan.

If you have a question we haven’t answered here, email us at news@citybeat.com.

How do you register to vote? 

There are six prerequisites to registering to vote in the state of Ohio:

1. You must be a citizen of the United States. 
2. You must be 18 years old on or before the day of the general election. 
3. You must have been a resident of Ohio for at least 30 days immediately before the election.
4. You must not be currently incarcerated on a felony charge.
5. You must not have been deemed incompetent to vote by a probate court.
6. You must not have violated Ohio voting laws in the past. 

You can vote in a primary election at 17 years old, but only if you’ll have a birthday before the following general election.

The Hamilton County Board of Elections explicitly says on its website that its goal is to make registering to vote easy.

Cincinnati residents can register in three ways: online, via snail-mail or in person. 

To register online, visit voteohio.gov and click “Register to Vote Online” in the top left. You’ll be asked to provide your first and last name, date of birth, driver’s license or state ID number, and the last four digits of your Social Security Number. You’ll also be asked to provide an address. You do not have to provide a party identification during this process. 

To register via mail, visit votehamiltoncounty.gov/register and click “Register by Mail” in the drop down menu. You can also call the Board of Elections office at (513) 946-8500 and ask them to mail you the registration form. The provided details are the same as applying online, and you do not have to provide a party identification. 

To register in person, visit any of the following locations:

• The Hamilton County Board of Elections, 4700 Smith Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45212
• The office of the registrar or any deputy registrar of the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles
• Public libraries
• Public high schools or vocational schools
• County treasurer’s offices
• The office of the Secretary of State
• The office of any of the 88 county boards of elections
• Offices of designated agencies, including:
  • The Department of Job and Family Services;
  • The Department of Health (including the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program);
  • The Department of Mental Health;
  • The Department of Developmental Disabilities;
  • Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities; or
  • The office of any state-assisted college or university responsible for providing assistance to disabled students

You’ll have to provide the same details as above, and you won’t have to provide a party identification.

Are absentee ballots right for me? 

The absentee request and ballot process can be overwhelming for potential voters, but understanding how you can benefit from this practical tool helps immensely. 

Both Democrats and Republicans are seeing increases in voters using absentee ballots. According to the Bipartisan Policy Center, 31% of all votes cast nationally in 2022 were filed absentee — an almost 11% increase since 2016. 

If you want to file an absentee request, forms can be found on the Ohio Secretary of State’s website, and can be mailed or handed in directly at the Board of Elections office.

For identification purposes, you will need to provide either the last four digits of your Social Security Number, your state ID number, or a copy of another photo ID. You’ll also have to mark which type of election you’ll be filing the ballot in, the party you’ll be voting with, and the date of the election. It’s important to remember that a separate request must be filed for each election. 

It usually takes a few days for the ballot to arrive at your home. Once it’s filled out, mail it back in as soon as possible. Forms should be addressed to the Hamilton County Board of Elections, 4700 Smith Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45212.

It can also be turned back in to the Board of Elections office in person; but only you or a near relative can do so. 

You can drop your absentee ballot off in person at a drop box at the board of elections, but it must be received by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day.

The board of elections has a way for you to track your ballot so that you can ensure it has been received. Click here and scroll to the bottom of the page where there’s a form that reads Track My Absentee Ballot

How do you vote early?

Early voting in Ohio begins the day after the registration deadline.

To cast a ballot early starting April 7, go to the Hamilton County Board of Elections office at 4700 Smith Road in Cincinnati. Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through April 24. 

On Monday, April 27, the office will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. 

On Tuesday, April 28, the office is open for an additional hour, from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. 

Hours go back to 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. for the remainder of that week, April 29-May 1. 

The office is open the weekend before the election: 

On Saturday, May 2, voters have from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. to cast their ballots in person. 

Sunday, May 2, those hours are from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. 

If you need to fill out an absentee ballot, the request form must be received by April 28, meaning you should try to get it mailed out at least a week in advance (that means, if you’re reading this in our print edition, you don’t have much time left!). 

Either way, make sure you bring an acceptable form of ID with you when you go. Click here to make sure you have the correct form of ID. Generally speaking, a state driver’s license or ID, a U.S. passport or military ID is acceptable.

These are the forms of ID that are not available:

• Driver License from another State
• Utility bill, bank statement, government check, payroll check, government document, concealed carry permit
• Social security card
• Ohio “mobile” ID
• Non-renewable/non-transferable ID
• Official mail or notice from the Board of Elections
• MARCC ID (Metropolitan Area Religious Coalition of Cincinnati)
• Expired ID

Where do you find your polling place? 

Polling place information can be found at voterlookup.ohiosos.gov. You’ll simply need to enter in your address to find your polling place. 

What to know if you go

The state of Ohio has many rules about what is and is not allowed in a polling place. If you violate those rules, even if you did not mean to, there’s a chance you may be removed from the premises. Knowing these rules will help you be better prepared to vote in person on the big day.

Some very important things to remember while you’re out voting:

Two small U.S. flags are present one hundred feet from every polling place. That is the boundary beyond which you can’t “loiter, congregate, or engage in any kind of election campaigning” according to the Secretary of State’s office. That boundary extends 10 feet around any voter waiting in line past the flags. 

You must bring an acceptable ID with you to the polls. Accepted IDs include a driver’s license, a state ID card, a U.S. passport, or a U.S. military ID card. Any ID presented must not be expired. 

As of the approval of HB 281 on April 6, 2023, you may be limited to only 10 minutes in a voting compartment or with a voting machine if all the others are occupied. This does not apply to voters with disabilities.

Voters with disabilities may have anyone of their choice assist them in filling out their ballot, so long as the chosen person is not their employer or their union officer. This extends to absentee ballots as well. 

A challenge may be issued by election officials if they believe you may not be a U.S. citizen, you may not have lived in Ohio for the requisite 30 days, you may not be in the correct polling place, or that you may not be of voting age. If a challenge is issued, an election official will ask a series of questions and may make you swear an oath. 

If you’re challenged, you will still be able to fill out a provisional ballot, which will count if you are proven to be able to vote by the Board of Elections. 

If you’re in line before 7:30 p.m., stay in line. You have the right to vote as long as you showed up while the polling place was still open.

If you have a question about voting you’d like us to answer for you, email news@citybeat.com.

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The primary election is May 5, but it’s never too early to start making your voting plan, especially if you aren’t sure if you are registered. 

Whether you feel like you’re prepared or haven’t even thought about it yet, this guide is here to break down how, where and when you’ll be able to vote in Cincinnati and Hamilton County. 

Below is a list of the key dates coming up ahead of the primary election and into the general election in November so that you can have your voting plan ready to go.

Click here to find out who will be on the ballot for Hamilton County voters.

What’s a primary?

The current closest elections are the party primaries. These are when two members of the same party compete to see who will move on to the later general elections in November.

Right now

If you are already registered to vote, you can currently fill out and submit a request for an absentee ballot. Once the request is made, you’ll still have to wait until April 7 to send in your ballot.

Click here to find out if you are currently registered to vote. To update your voter registration, click here.

These requests must be received by 8:30 p.m. on April 28, so try to get them in the mail at least a week ahead of time.

March 20: Absentee process begins for overseas voters

Military members and U.S. citizens in foreign countries begin the absentee process on March 20, so that their ballots are able to get back to the country in time.

If you fit the description above, the Ohio Secretary of State’s office has specialized absentee request forms available here.

April 6: Deadline to register to vote

April 6 is the official deadline to register to vote in the May 5 primary elections.

There are three ways to register to vote: 

Online

You can register online at voteohio.gov, but only if you have an Ohio driver’s license or Ohio state identification card. If you don’t have one, you will have to register in person. 

You also need to provide the last four digits of your social security number if you vote online. 

By Mail 

Download a voter registration form at votehamiltoncountyohio.gov/register. 

Pick one up in person at the board of elections at 4700 Smith Road in Cincinnati. 

Or you can have one mailed to you by calling 513-946-8500. 

In person

You can get a voter registration form and submit the form at any of the following locations: 

• The Hamilton County Board of Elections, 4700 Smith Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45212
• The office of the registrar or any deputy registrar of the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles
• Public libraries
• Public high schools or vocational schools
• County treasurer’s offices
• The office of the Secretary of State
• The office of any of the 88 county boards of elections
• Offices of designated agencies, including:
  • The Department of Job and Family Services;
  • The Department of Health (including the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program);
  • The Department of Mental Health;
  • The Department of Developmental Disabilities;
  • Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities; or
  • The office of any state-assisted college or university responsible for providing assistance to disabled students

If you are physically unable to deliver your voter registration, you can provide it to an entrusted person to be delivered to the county board of elections within 10 days of completion or by the registration deadline. 

These are the requirements to register to vote:

• You have not been permanently disenfranchised for violating the election laws
• You are a citizen of the United States
• You will be at least 18 years old on or before the day of the next general election
• You will be a resident of Ohio for at least 30 days immediately before the election in which you want to vote
• You are not incarcerated (in prison or jail) for a felony conviction
• You have not been declared incompetent for voting purposes by a probate court

April 7: Early voting starts

Early voting in Ohio begins the day after the registration deadline.

To cast a ballot early starting April 7, go to the Hamilton County Board of Elections office at 4700 Smith Road in Cincinnati. 

Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through April 24. 

On Monday, April 27, the office will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. 

On Tuesday, April 28, the office is open for an additional hour, from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. 

Hours go back to 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. for the remainder of that week, April 29-May 1. 

The office is open the weekend before the election: 

On Saturday, May 2, voters have from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. to cast their ballots in person. 

Sunday, May 2, those hours are from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. 

Absentee ballots: 

If you need to fill out an absentee ballot, the request form must be received by April 28, meaning you should try to get it mailed out at least a week in advance (that means, if you’re reading this in our print edition, you don’t have much time left!). 

Download the form to request an absentee ballot below.

Other ways to get an absentee ballot request form: 

• Any Hamilton County Public Library 
• Call the board of elections at 513-946-8544 or 513-946-8539
• Pick up a copy at the board of elections office at 4700 Smith Road in Cincinnati 

Absentee ballots will start being sent out on April 7. 

April 28: Absentee request form deadline

This is the deadline for the board of elections to have received your absentee ballot request.

Completed absentee ballots must be dropped off in person on Election Day by 7:30 p.m.

May 5: Primary Election Day

The big day! Polling locations will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. 

Not sure where your polling location is? Click here to find out.

All absentee ballots that haven’t been mailed in should be delivered directly to the Board of Elections office at 4700 Smith Road in Cincinnati. 

After the primaries conclude on May 5, the newly elected candidates start campaigning against each other in the lead up to the general elections. 

There are some interesting state and national races, like a special election for J.D. Vance’s Senate seat, and local races that will determine everything from your tax bill to zoning laws that regulate what you can build on your property. 

Here are the dates to watch out for heading into the General Election: 

Sept. 18: Overseas voters can send in ballots

U.S. citizens abroad can start sending in their absentee ballots for the general election on Sept. 18.

Note that for those filing absentee requests, if you intend to vote in the Nov. 3 general elections and the Nov. 3 special election, you have to file two separate absentee requests for each election. 

Oct. 5: Registration deadline

The deadline to register to vote for the general and special election is Oct. 5.

Click here to find out if you are currently registered to vote. To update your voter registration, click here.

Oct. 6: Early voting begins

Early voting begins on Oct. 6, the day after the registration deadline.

Early voting can be done at the Board of Elections office from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Absentee ballots will also be sent out to those who registered for them starting Oct. 6.

Oct. 27: Absentee ballot request form

Oct. 27 is the deadline for absentee requests, which must be received by the Board of Elections by 8:30 p.m. 

Nov. 3: General Election Day

Election day commences (again!).

General Election Day! 

Absentee ballots must be dropped at the Hamilton County Board of Elections drop box by  7:30 p.m.

The post It’s time to start making your voting plan appeared first on Cincinnati CityBeat.

Ohio voters will cast their ballot for a new governor in 2026, along with all of Ohio’s other statewide executive offices, as all current officeholders are term-limited. 

That includes Ohio secretary of state, attorney general, auditor, treasurer. Two Ohio Supreme Court justice seats will also be up for election this year.

Former Ohio Department of Health director Dr. Amy Acton is running as a Democratic candidate for governor. Former Congressman Tim Ryan announced he will not run for governor, essentially clearing a path for Acton to be the Democratic nominee.   

Acton has received nominations from the Ohio Federation of Teachers, Ohio Civil Service Employees Association, the Ohio Association of Public School Employees, AFSCME Ohio Council 8, former Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland, and the United Auto Workers.

There are two Republican candidates running for governor — entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and political newcomer Casey Putsch. The Ohio Republican Party officially endorsed Ramaswamy in May 2025.

Ramaswamy has secured trade union endorsements including the Ohio Teamsters Union and the Central Regional Council of Carpenters. President Donald Trump and the Center for Christian Virtue’s president have also endorsed Ramaswamy, who ran for president in 2024. 

Putsch lives in northwest Ohio and is a founder of the nonprofit Genius Garage car charity.

Political newcomer Heather Hill is also running for governor as an independent after leaving the Republican party. 

Former Democratic state Rep. Elliot Forhan and John Kulewicz, a retired attorney and Upper Arlington City Council member, are running in the Democratic primary for Ohio attorney general. Current Republican Ohio Auditor Keith Faber is also running for attorney general. 

Democratic Ohio House state Rep. Allison Russo and Bryan Hambley, a cancer doctor with University of Cincinnati Health, are running in the Democratic primary for secretary of state.

Current Republican Ohio Treasurer Robert Sprague and retired Air Force intel officer Marcell Strbich are running in the Republican primary for secretary of state. 

Current Republican Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose is running for state auditor in 2026. 

A Republican primary for the nomination for Ohio treasurer includes former state Sen. Niraj Antani, current state Sen. Kristina Roegner, former state Rep. Jay Edwards, and Lake County Treasurer Michael Zuren.

No Democrats have yet announced their candidacy in 2026 for Ohio auditor or treasurer. 

Two Ohio Supreme Court races will be on the 2026 ballot.

Democratic Ohio Supreme Court Justice Jennifer Brunner is being challenged by four Republicans competing in a primary — former Franklin County Common Pleas Judge Colleen O’Donnell, Fifth District Court of Appeals Judge Andrew King, Second District Court of Appeals Judge Ron Lewis, and State Appellate Judge Jill Flagg Lanzinger. 

Brunner is the only Democratic judge on the 6-1 Ohio Supreme Court. 

Republican Ohio Supreme Court Justice Dan Hawkins is up for reelection next year against Democratic candidate First District Court of Appeals Judge Marilyn Zayas, who previously ran unsuccessfully for Ohio Supreme Court in 2022 when she lost to Justice Pat DeWine by a 13% margin. 

The filing deadline to run for Ohio office is Feb. 4, Ohio’s primary election is May 5, and the general election is Nov. 3. 

The last time a Democratic candidate won any of Ohio statewide executive offices was back in 2006 when Ted Strickland was elected governor, Marc Dann was elected attorney general, Richard Cordray was elected treasurer, and Jennifer Bruner was elected secretary of state. 

Also in 2026, former Ohio Democratic U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown will challenge appointed Ohio Republican U.S. Sen. Jon Husted, who replaced JD Vance in the chamber. Husted is seeking his first election to the position.

This story was originally published by the Ohio Capital Journal and republished here with permission.

The post What Candidates are Running for Statewide Office in Ohio in 2026? appeared first on Cincinnati CityBeat.

Ohio lawmakers voted Wednesday to shorten the deadline again for returning absentee ballots — removing any grace period and invalidating all ballots that arrive after Election Day. That measure, Ohio Senate Bill 293, is now on its way to the governor.

As recently as 2022, Ohio voters had a 10-day grace period for absentee ballots post-marked by Election Day to arrive at their local county board of elections to be officially counted. Ohio Republican lawmakers shortened that to four days for the 2024 election, and are now eliminating the grace period entirely.

Threats from the Trump administration spurred Ohio lawmakers into action. In a March executive order, the president introduced a novel reading of federal law and simply declared all absentee ballots arriving after Election Day should be rejected. In recent months, the U.S. Department of Justice has been warning Ohio officials it might sue the state over the issue.

The bill’s sponsors also pointed to the U.S. Supreme Court agreeing to hear a case out of Mississippi, which allows ballots to show up five days after an election.

Should the court reject absentee ballot grace periods, they argue, Ohio election officials could find themselves rushing to make sweeping changes ahead of a contentious federal election.

At the last minute, the bill picked up an amendment that critics warn will increase provisional voting “exponentially” and make it far easier to cancel a voter’s registration. The changes direct county boards to promptly cancel a person’s registration if the secretary of state determines they aren’t a citizen.

It’s a notable departure. Typically, county boards send a confirmation notice when they find a problem with a person’s registration. And it’s not like the secretary’s track record is perfect. Since taking office, Sec. Frank LaRose has flagged hundreds of individuals as alleged noncitizens. County prosecutors and the Ohio attorney general have largely brushed off his allegations and declined to prosecute all but a handful. Last year, LaRose’s review appeared to violate statutory requirements and wound up flagging recently naturalized citizens.

The amendment also directs the secretary to send reports to all 88 counties detailing apparent data mismatches. Voters identified in the report would receive a confirmation notice, and if they don’t provide corrected information, they’d have to vote provisionally.

House floor debate

On the House floor, state Rep. Sharon Ray, R-Wadsworth, explained the bill brings Ohio’s deadline in line with 34 others around the country.

A former election board member in Medina County, Ray emphasized that acting now will simplify changes at county boards, “allowing for an extensive voter awareness campaign” before the primary and ensuring “consistency” between the primary and general elections.

State Rep. Adam Bird, R-New Richmond, asked his colleagues if they want to “tighten loopholes,” “instill confidence and credibility” and ensure “Ohio is abiding by federal election law.”

“I do,” Bird said. “I would encourage you to want that as well.”

State Rep. Allison Russo, D-Upper Arlington, blasted the suggestion that Ohio’s current system is breaking the law.

“This notion that we would be violating federal law by continuing our grace period is false,” she said. “There is no federal law that is being violated. There is a court case that is being reviewed by the Supreme Court.”

Democrats brought three different amendments to the House floor. All of them failed. State Rep. Juanita Brent, D-Cleveland, proposed changes that would have created a permanent absent voter list. Russo offered language allowing voters to return absentee ballots at any polling location or county board of elections rather than just their county board.

State Rep. Ashley Bryant Bailey, D-Cincinnati, urged lawmakers to notify voters 60-90 days before an election if there’s a discrepancy in their records, “before they are blindsided at the polls and forced to vote provisionally.”

Bryant Bailey explained that notice matters to her because a clerical error nearly derailed her appointment to the House.

She changed her name when she got married and her registration initially didn’t follow her.

“You may support this bill, or you may oppose it,” she said, “but notice isn’t partisan. It’s basic fairness.”

State Rep. Josh Williams, R-Sylvania Twp., spoke against each of the proposals before lawmakers tabled the amendments. He suggested a permanent absent voter list would open the door to family members voting on behalf of elderly, incapacitated voters. Allowing voters to turn in ballots at polling locations or other county boards would similarly “make Ohio elections less secure and open to fraud and abuse,” Williams said. Requiring notice before canceling a voter’s registration would lead to fraud, too, Williams insisted.

“If we really care about election integrity,” Williams said, “I think it’s reasonable for the Secretary of State to remove illegal immigrants from our voter rolls, even within 90 days of the election.”

For all Republicans stated concerns about complying with federal law, systematically removing voter registrations within 90 days of a federal election — as Williams suggested and as the bill would require — is barred by the National Voter Registration Act’s ‘quiet period’ provisions.

Last year, Virginia ordered just such a review that wound up removing 1,600 registrations, some of which belonged to eligible voters. A federal court and U.S. Court of Appeals sided with groups challenging those removals, but the U.S. Supreme Court allowed them to go forward without ruling on whether the process was valid.

Senate concurrence

Because of that eleventh-hour amendment, the Senate had to vote to concur with the House’s changes. Wednesday evening, the Senate took up the bill.

One of the bill’s sponsors, state Sen. Theresa Gavarone, R-Bowling Green, pointed to the U.S. Supreme Court deciding to hear the case out of Mississippi. That ruling will likely arrive next summer.

“It makes more sense and will be more efficient to introduce that change now; that way, there’s plenty of time to make sure every voter is aware and can make their vote on time,” she insisted.

State Sen. Bill DeMora, D-Columbus, wasn’t buying it and called the bill an “all-out assault on democracy.”

“Why do we want to act on something before the Supreme Court of the United States makes a decision?” he asked, half exasperated.

“I mean, the Supreme Court, two years ago, basically the same members on the Court, allowed Pennsylvania voters to turn their ballots in and be counted late, even though Pennsylvania didn’t even have that on the books as a state law.”

State Sen. Willis Blackshear, D-Dayton, said the latest changes, coming on the heels of several recent election laws, will only breed confusion.

“Just in regard to the grace period,” he said, “we have changed the timeline from 10 days to four days, and now Senate Bill 293 proposes no grace period. Altogether, this bill will further that confusion and make it so more people will have to vote provisionally and risk their vote not being counted.”

State Sen. Kent Smith, D-Euclid, pointed to provisions meant to “clean up” discrepancies in the voter rolls — for instance, if an address or a driver’s license doesn’t match or a person dies.

“There are at least four Kent Smiths that live in Cuyahoga County,” he said. “One of them, I know, has passed away. Do you see what the potential problem can be?”

Senate Republicans brushed off all the objections.

One of the bill’s co-sponsors, state Sen. Andrew Brenner, R-Delaware, reminded his colleagues that voters still have several weeks of early voting and 34 other states impose the same deadline for absentee ballots.

State Sen. Terry Johnson, R-McDermott, recalled Election Day being a single day when he started voting in the ’70s and insisted “it’s so easy” to vote early or by mail.

Frustration growing, Johnson rejected the suggestion that the bill is a Republican attempt to suppress the vote.

“I can personally guarantee you, no one on this side of the aisle is trying to suppress the vote. Get a new line. It’s not true. No one believes it anymore,” he barked.

That rang a bit hollow for state Sen. Catherine Ingram, D-Cincinnati. She noted the Ohio House and Senate held several committee hearings on Election Day just a few weeks ago.

This story was originally published by the Ohio Capital Journal and republished here with permission.

The post Ohio Lawmakers Send New Election Day Deadline for Absentee Ballots Law to Governor appeared first on Cincinnati CityBeat.

After months of contentious mayoral campaigning and dozens of council candidates vying to stand out in a crowded race, Cincinnati’s election has wrapped with little changed at City Hall.

With 100% of Hamilton County precincts reporting, these are the results.

The race for mayor ended as predicted with Democratic incumbent Mayor Aftab Pureval securing his second term. Pureval raked in 78% of the vote over Republican challenger (and half-brother to veep JD Vance) Cory Bowman, who managed 22%, or about 14,383 votes.

The city council race was one to watch with 26 candidates, including eight incumbents, running for nine open seats. All eight incumbents won their seats — Council Member Victoria Parks is the only member who opted out of the race — and political newcomer Ryan James won the final seat. At 29, James is the youngest Black man to sit on Cincinnati City Council.

The entire council is Democrat-endorsed. The 10th-place vote-getter was Republican Liz Keating, who previously served on council. Here’s the order of votes earned by council winners:

This year’s election centered heavily on public safety, especially in the mayor’s race. Read more in CityBeat‘s 2025 Election Guide.

The post Election Results: City Hall is (Almost) Entirely Unchanged appeared first on Cincinnati CityBeat.

As is the case with any off-year election, elections officials expect a low voter turnout Tuesday in Hamilton County. At the Downtown Cincinnati Public Library polling site, Kaia Cole has observed as much while campaigning for her niece from the Vine Street sidewalk.

“I’m out here representing my niece, Laketa Cole, who’s running for City Council,” Kaia Cole told CityBeat proudly.

Turnout was a steady trickle when CityBeat spoke with Kaia Cole around 2:30 p.m. She was passing out pamphlets with info about the Charter Committee candidate.

“A lot of people said they’re gonna vote for her, so I think she has a great chance of winning again this time,” she said. 

Laketa Cole previously served on council from 2003 through 2011.

“She’s learned a lot,” Kaia Cole said. “So she’ll be a lot better this time.”

Also stumping from the sidewalk was Stephan Pryor, one of 26 candidates running to fill nine City Council seats. Pryor was the only candidate actively campaigning outside the polling location when CityBeat visited Tuesday afternoon. Despite the apparent modest turnout, Pryor told CityBeat he thinks the Downtown polling locations will see higher than average turnout.

“Because all the stuff was going on in the community,” Pryor said. “The council that’s in the seats right now not doing anything. They’re not coming up with a plan to actually stop some of this shooting.”

This year’s election quickly became a lightning rod for public safety discussions after a string of highly-publicized crimes in Over-the-Rhine and Downtown, including a viral brawl that launched Cincinnati into the national spotlight. Crime rates in the city have been a mixed bag in recent years: Downtown homicides are down but violent crime overall is up 12.8% compared to last year. The sharpest rise is in aggravated assaults, which jumped 54.5% from 22 to 34 cases, according to the city’s year-to-year data. The perception of violent crime in the city’s core neighborhoods became a major point of contention in the mayor’s race, leading the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) to endorse Republican Cory Bowman, Vice President JD Vance’s half-brother. Democratic Mayor Aftab Pureval made an apparent move to regain voters’ trust on public safety by joining the City Manager in placing CPD Chief Teresa Theetge on administrative leave pending an investigation into her “effectiveness of leadership.”

“I remember when Mayor Aftab Pureval, when he first became mayor, he went on Good Morning America‘s show and he said it’s not the law enforcement’s fault of gun violence,” Pryor said. “He said that. He said it’s poverty. He said all this, but why did he get rid of Chief Theetge? These liars in suits. That’s what I call them, liars in suits.”

Katie Foley, a Downtown resident of four years, turned out to vote on Tuesday, but said she wasn’t motivated by the conversations about safety.

“That wasn’t something that I voted based on, really,” Foley said. “I feel like people say that it’s, like, not safe around here, but…I used to live in Cheviot. I don’t feel like any more safe or less safe being here than being in Cheviot.”

Foley said she voted for incumbent candidate Pureval, but she said other ballot items will have a more direct impact on public safety – like the Cincinnati Public School and the Hamilton County Parks levies.

“I think things that would prevent crime would more be like making sure that people have access to a good job, or you have access to housing,” she said. “So I’m voting for more things to increase money for education or increase money for parks.”

Hamilton County polls close at 7:30 p.m.

The post A Polls-Eye View on Election Day in Downtown Cincinnati appeared first on Cincinnati CityBeat.