COLUMBUS (AP) — Some central Ohio voters can start casting ballots in next month’s special election.
Early voting for the Aug. 7 special election and 12th District general election begins Tuesday. Residents can vote absentee by mail or in person without having to give a reason.
Republican Secretary of State Jon Husted says voters will decide four local issues across seven counties.
In central Ohio, they’ll also choose a successor to ex-U.S. Rep. Pat Tiberi, who retired in January.
The district’s been held by a Republican for 35 years, but Democrats see it as an opportunity.
Republican state Sen. Troy Balderson, of Zanesville, and Democratic Franklin County Recorder Danny O’Connor are vying for the seat, which represents all or part of Delaware, Franklin, Licking, Marion, Morrow, Muskingum and Richland counties.
Hustex says he is making extra efforts to help Ohio voters remain registered after the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the state’s stringent practices for removing inactive voters from rolls.
Husted directed boards to send an additional reminder to voters 30 to 45 days before they are set to be removed from the rolls. He also made activity at the Bureau of Motor Vehicles count as voter activity under maintenance, as long as the person uses the same address as the one that appears on his or her voter registration.
Husted also is updating his website, MyOhioVote.com, so that voters can easily see the confirmation status of their registration, said spokesman Sam Rossi.