Don’t forget to vote tomorrow!

Dear Clients and Referral Partners,

Tomorrow – Tuesday, Aug. 8 – is Election Day in Ohio.

Earlier this year, the Ohio General Assembly overrode its own ban on August special elections passed in 2022 to allow this unusual summer election. Once it reversed its ban on August special elections, the legislature voted to place Issue 1 on tomorrow’s ballot.

Issue 1 proposes an increase in the approval rate necessary to pass a state constitutional amendment. Issue 1 if approved, would require 60 percent of voters to pass a new constitutional amendment, instead of a simple majority of 50 percent plus one. It also would:

• Require groups who want to place an amendment on the ballot to collect signatures from at least 5 percent of voters from the last gubernatorial election in all 88 Ohio counties, instead of the current 44 counties.
• Eliminate a 10-day cure period that allows citizens to replace any signatures deemed faulty by the secretary of state’s office.

Issue 1 itself needs just a simple majority to pass. If approved, the 60 percent threshold would take effect right away, and changes to signature gathering would go into effect starting Jan. 1.

Two other wrinkles in this election you should be aware of:

• Your voting location may be different. Many normal polling locations across the state will not be used. If your normal polling location is closed, you should have received notification of your Aug. 8 voting location from your county Board of Elections.
• Ohio Voters are now required to show photo ID when they vote in person. Acceptable forms of photo ID are: an Ohio driver’s license; State of Ohio ID card; Interim ID form issued by the Ohio BMV; A US passport; A US passport card; US military ID card; Ohio National Guard ID card; or US Department of Veterans Affairs ID card. All IDs must have the following: An expiration date that has not passed; a photograph of the voter; and the voter’s name, which must substantially conform to the voter’s name as it appears in the Poll List or in the Poll Book.

More than 150,000 Ohioans already have voted in this election, casting ballots by absentee or in-person early voting, through Friday, Aug. 7.

If you were not among those early voters, we urge you to get to the polls tomorrow to cast a ballot in this important election. Regardless of you position on Issue 1, we urge you to exercise your right to vote Aug. 8.

Please check your polling location, be sure to take your photo ID, and get out to vote tomorrow!

Best regards,

R. F. Meyer & Associates