COLUMBUS — Despite the uncertainty raised over the date of Ohio’s primary election, the state is moving forward with early voting for a likely May 3 contest for statewide and congressional races – but not those for the state legislature.
Early in-person voting begins at 8:00 a.m. Tuesday, April 4. Voters can also cast their ballots by-mail or on Election Day.
The partial primary is scheduled to go ahead despite months of unresolved legal wrangling over redistricting maps ruled unconstitutional by the Ohio Supreme Court.
U.S. House races have been allowed to continue because court proceedings have tied up the latest disputed map beyond Election Day.
“The races that will be on the ballot are U.S. Senate, all of the statewide – like governor, congressional races – and potentially local races. If you’re an independent voter, you may have issues that are on the ballot,” said Jen Miller, executive director of the League of Women Voters of Ohio, one of the groups challenging the election maps in the courts.
State legislative races are being delayed because no set of district boundaries has been settled on long enough to be used for making ballots. A second primary is reportedly expected for the state legislative races in August.
Because of confusion about voting districts and whether there would even be a May 3rd primary, voter registration has been down, Miller said.
“Remember that quite a few people are removed from the rolls every year if they don’t vote frequently. And so, folks need to make sure they’re on the rolls, and that their voter registration information is up to date,” she said.
Once registered, voters have the option to vote early in person, request a mail-in absentee ballot or wait and vote at their precinct on Election Day. The deadline to request an absentee ballot is noon April 30.