CINCINNATI — It's Election Day! Yes, everyone knows what's at the top of the ticket, but there are plenty of other important races to pay attention to this year. Here's the breakdown of what's on your ballot and how to exercise your civic duty either before or on Tuesday, Nov. 4.
How to vote
On Election Day, you must cast your ballots at your designated polling place between 6:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Click here to find your polling place if you are unsure or have recently moved.
Ohio requires voters to present a photo ID. You must bring your Ohio driver's license, Ohio ID card, interim ID form issued by the BMV, U.S. passport or passport card, U.S. military ID, Ohio National Guard ID or VA ID card.
The ID must have a photo, the voter's name and an expiration date that hasn't passed. It is OK if your driver's license or state ID has your previous address as long as it has not expired. If you don't have the correct form of ID, you can cast a provisional ballot.
What's on the ballot
You can view your sample ballot by clicking on your county and entering your address here.
In Hamilton County, there are a few big races you'll want to look out for.
Cincinnati mayor
Incumbent Aftab Pureval will take on challenger Cory Bowman in the Cincinnati mayoral race. We sat down with both candidates earlier this month to discuss their core values and priorities for the city's future.
You can see what they said here:
Cincinnati City Council
There are 26 people running for city council this year.
While Victoria Parks will not be seeking reelection, all other incumbents are on the ballot. They'll look to retain their seats against 14 newcomers and a few other familiar faces as former council members Laketa Cole, Steven P. Goodin, Liz Keating and Chris Smitherman attempt a return.
We have the full list of candidates and their campaign focuses right here.
Hamilton County Municipal Judge
Though a majority of the judge races are uncontested, two districts will have contested races on the ballot.
District 4, which makes up Anderson Township, Norwood and other east side neighborhoods, will choose between Josh Berkowitz and Danielle Cary Colliver. Berkowitz is the incumbent, serving on the court since 2015. He has been endorsed by the Hamilton County GOP. Colliver worked at the Ohio Justice & Policy Center before having a private practice. She is backed by the Hamilton County Democratic Party.
District 5, including Evendale, Indian Hill, Blue Ash, Montgomery and other nearby neighborhoods, is voting between Athena E. Stefanou and Betsy Sundermann. Stefanou, a Cheviot native and UC grad, currently serves as the Clerk of Courts' Chief of Court Operations. Sundermann, who got her J.D. from UC, currently serves on the Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division.
Levies
We've covered multiple levies or bond issues that will be on the ballot this election. The following school districts have legislation on their area's ballots:
- Lakota Local Schools is introducing a bond issue to fund the district's master facilities plan.
- Oak Hills Schools has a bond issue that would upgrade the district's older school buildings.
- Little Miami Schools is asking taxpayers to approve an operating levy renewal.
- Madison Local Schools is once again putting its 4-mill property tax levy on the ballot after an even split last election.
There are also multiple other levies:
- Colerain Township residents will vote on a levy for their police department funding.
- Milford Township is asking for residents to approve a levy to keep EMS services.
- Clearcreek Township residents will vote on a 2.25-mill levy for the police department.
- Harlan Township has a levy on the ballot to pay part-time firefighters.
- Clermont County Children's Services is asking voters to approve a funding levy.
Cincinnati city charter amendments
Cincinnati voters will see two charter amendments on their ballots Tuesday, Nov. 4.
Issue 2:
Issue 2 focuses on public safety and aims to incentivize young people to join the Cincinnati Police Department and the Cincinnati Fire Department.
Cincinnati's police department has been dealing with staffing issues for years. According to WVXU, the department has 946 sworn officers, while the city has budgeted for 1,059 officers.
Any recruits for the police or fire departments must pass an entry exam, and the passing of Issue 2 would give some people extra points toward those exams.
Those available to receive extra points, per Issue 2, include:
- Those who have completed the Police Understudy Program or the Summer Cadet Program
- Those who have completed at least two years in the Cincinnati Police Public Safety Cadet Program
- Those who have completed the Fire Cadet Program or the Fire Summer Cadet Program
Issue 3:
Issue 3 concerns campaign finances and, if passed, would change requirements for those running for Cincinnati mayor or city council.
Introduced by current councilmember Evan Nolan, who is running for reelection this year as well, Issue 3 would better align Cincinnati reporting rules with Ohio standards in an effort to simplify it for candidates. It would also hopefully clear up any possible confusion for voters.
Nolan told WVXU that rules in Cincinnati are more complex than other parts of Ohio, and the reasoning for this is no longer valid.
"It had to do with easier ways to track compliance with contribution limits, but because of the technology that we have today, particularly in the Office of Ethics and Good Governance, they are able to do that work without these separate reports," Nolan told WVXU.
Ohio candidates for public office must file several campaign finance reports, including annual, semi-annual, pre-general election and post-election reports. Cincinnati City Council and mayoral candidates also have to file pre-election and post-election reports, and mayoral candidates also file an additional report if a primary election occurs that year.
City-required reports may be due at the same time as state-required reports, but the reports themselves may cover different time periods. Issue 3 would change that.
If the charter is amended, the Cincinnati Elections Commission would receive campaign finance information from local candidates much more frequently.
