Less than two weeks until Ohio primary | News, Sports, Jobs
Karen Pawloski, deputy director for the Washington County Board of Elections, shows one of the new voting booths that are designed for in-person voters to have more privacy. These booths will only be used at the board of election’s offices. (Photo by Michele Newbanks)
MARIETTA – There is less than two weeks until the May 3 primary and the Washington County Board of Elections office has been busy with early voters.
So far, there have been more than 420 early voters.
Applications for a ballot must be in the board’s office by noon April 30. If mailed in, ballots must be postmarked by May 2, or they can be hand carried into the office by 7:30 p.m. May 3.
The possibility of a second primary later this summer has caused some questions and concerns.
“We don’t know for sure when the (special) election will be, but there is a chance for us to have a special any year in August,” said Mandy Amos, director of the board of elections. “But we haven’t gotten anything yet that’s going to be on the ballot for that.”
Deputy Director Karen Pawloski said the Ohio General Assembly determines what will be on the ballot.
“As election officials, by Ohio’s constitution, we have to have 90 days to prepare for an election,” Pawloski said. “That allows us to send out and give time to military or overseas voters, there’s things we have to do to prepare for an election.”
Aug. 2 is the last day to have an election and then have time to prepare for the general election.
“We’re hopeful they take that into consideration,” Pawloski said.
The cost of a second primary election was brought up at last week’s meeting of the Washington County Board of Commissioners. Commissioner Kevin Ritter expressed his consternation at the county’s possibly paying almost $62,000 for the second primary.
“You might remember a second primary was made necessary this year when Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor cast the deciding vote not once, not twice, but four times in ruling the state’s redistricting plan unconstitutional,” he said.
He said her actions have thrown the state’s election process into chaos.
“She has caused some Ohioans to question the integrity of the process, and her actions are going to cost Washington County $61,943.06,” Ritter said, noting the cost is based on population, so more populous counties will pay even more.
A special notice was posted to the board’s website: “On March 16, 2022, the Supreme Court of Ohio invalidated the Ohio General Assembly district plan adopted on Feb. 24, 2022. Therefore, the offices of Ohio House, Ohio Senate and State Central Committee will not appear on the May 3, 2022 Primary Election ballot.
Voter district information for Ohio House, Ohio Senate, and State Central Committee will be updated as soon as that information is available.”
For those who are visiting the board of election office for early in-person voting, a change in the voting booths might ease some privacy concerns.
Starting with the May 3 election, privacy booths are set up so people can vote electronically, but have a curtain surrounding them. The six double-sided booths will only be used for early in-person voting at the election office.
Those on the May 3 ballot are:
¯ U.S. Senator
Democrat
Morgan Harper
Traci ‘T.J.’ Johnson
Tim Ryan
Republican
Matt Dolan
Mike Gibbons
Josh Mandel
Neil Patel
Mark Pukita
Jane Timken
J.D. Vance
¯ Governor and Lieutenant Governor
Democrat
John Cranley/Teresa Fedor
Nan Whaley/Cheryl L. Stephens
Republican
Joe Blystone/Jeremiah W. Workman
Mike DeWine/Jon Husted
Ron Hood/Candice Keller
Jim Renacci/Joseph M. Knopp
¯ Attorney General
Democrat
Jeffrey A. Crossman
Republican
Dave Yost
¯ Auditor
Democrat
Taylor Sappington
Republican
Keith Faber
¯ Secretary of State
Democrat
Chelsea Clark
Republican
John Adams
Frank LaRose
¯ Treasurer
Democrat
Scott Schertzer
Republican
Robert Sprague
¯ Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
Democrat
Jennifer Brunner
Republican
Sharon L. Kennedy
¯ Justice of the Supreme Court – term comm 1/1/23
Democrat
Terri Jamison
Republican
Pat Fischer
¯ Justice of the Supreme Court – term comm 1/2/23
Democrat
Marilyn Zayas
Republican
Pat DeWine
¯ County Commissioner
Democrat
No candidate filed
Republican
Kevin Ritter
¯ Auditor
Democrat
No candidate filed
Republican
Matthew Livengood
¯ Judge of Common Pleas Court
Democrat
No candidate filed
Republican
Mark Kerenyi
¯ U.S. Representative – 6th District
Democrat
Martin Alexander
Eric S. Jones
Louis G. Lyras
Shawna Roberts
Republican
John Anderson
Bill Johnson
Michael S. Morgenstern
Gregory M. Zelenitz
¯ Judge of the Court of Appeals
Democrat
No candidate filed
Republican
Kristy Wilkin
Michele Newbanks can be reached at [email protected].
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