Hamilton County residents are on their way to the polls to vote on a number of people and issues in the May 4 primary election. Of note, residents of Cincinnati are voting among six candidates to head to the general election in November to become the city’s next mayor.
But if you want to vote, you need to know what’s up. Below, learn how and where to vote and what you can expect to see on your ballot. For full voting information, visit the Hamilton County Board of Elections website.
Are you registered to vote?
Hamilton County requires voters to be registered about a month before an election; in this case, that was April 5. Check your status here. If you’re not properly registered, you may be able to cast a provisional ballot. Call the Hamilton County Board of Elections immediately at 513-632-7000.
Where’s your polling location?
There are many polling sites throughout the county, but residents must head to the one they’ve been assigned. Find that here or open this Excel file. If you have a disability or need assistance to vote, there are options for that. Polls close at 7:30 p.m.; you’ll still get to vote as long as you’re in line at that time. Mask up and head to the polls, if you haven’t already voted during the early voting period.
Do you have your ID?
Ohio requires voters to show identification at the polls. For many residents, that means a state driver’s license or ID card, and items like utility bills and payroll checks may be used if they’re up to date. Most items require identification to show your current address, but if yours has a previous address, you still may be able to vote provisionally. Read about that here.
If you’re good with everything above, you’re probably most interested in voting for mayoral candidates if you live in Cincinnati.
Who’s running for mayor?
Six candidates are on today’s nonpartisan primary ballot: startup founder Gavi Begtrup, Cincinnati City Council member David Mann, educator Herman J. Najoli, retired Cincinnati firefighter Raffel Prophett, Hamilton County Clerk of Courts Aftab Pureval and State Sen. Cecil Thomas. All are Democrats except for Najoli, who is an Independent. There’s been a lot of, uh, drama before today’s primary, as CityBeat has previously reported.
What happens after today?
The top two vote-getters from the May 4 primary will duke it out in the general election on Nov. 2. The winner then will become Cincinnati’s next mayor.
Where’s John Cranley?
He’s ineligible to run for mayor again because of term limits. He’s been mayor since 2013.
Is there other stuff to vote on?
In addition to voting for individuals, Cincinnati residents also will be voting on issues. Read the ballot wording for those below, as provided by the Board of Elections:
1 – PROPOSED CHARTER AMENDMENT
ORDINANCE 45-2021 (EMERGENCY)
CITY OF CINCINNATI
A majority affirmative vote is necessary for passage.
Shall the Charter of the City of Cincinnati be amended to prohibit council members from revising their successor designation certificates subsequent to being indicted for a felony or subsequent to the filing of criminal charges against them for conduct in the performance of council duties; and to require the City Solicitor appoint a special prosecutor to prosecute an action under Ohio Revised Code Section 733.72 or its successor to remove a member of Council where a member of council has been indicted for a felony or a criminal complaint has been filed against a member for charges relating to official conduct, by amending Article II, Section 4b and amending Article IV by enacting new Section 5b?
2 – PROPOSED CHARTER AMENDMENT
ORDINANCE 46-2021 (EMERGENCY)
CITY OF CINCINNATI
A majority affirmative vote is necessary for passage.
Shall the Charter of the City of Cincinnati be amended to provide for a pre-conviction suspension of a member of council if the member of council is indicted for allegedly committing a state or federal felony that relates to the member of council’s conduct in the performance of council duties, where the suspended member of council shall be suspended from official duties but shall receive a salary during the suspension that may be recovered by the city upon the member’s conviction; to also provide for the removal of a member of council upon a conviction of or guilty plea to said crime; to require ethics training for council members within 60 days of taking the oath of office; to prohibit council members from revising their successor designation certificates subsequent to being indicted for a state or federal felony that relates to the member of council’s conduct in the performance of council duties; and to clarify details regarding successor designation certificates, by amending Section 4b and enacting new Sections 4c, 4d, and 4e of Article II?
What about Issue 3?
Just before the Board of Elections began printing ballots, the Ohio Supreme Court ordered the board to change the language used in Issue 3, the controversial affordable housing item. Here’s a link to a PDF of the board’s most recent sample ballot upload.
What if you don’t live in Cincinnati?
Residents of Hamilton County who don’t live in Cincinnati are voting on stuff, too. Harrison, Silverton, Deer Park, North College Hill, Indian Hill and Winton Woods all have people and/or issues on the ballot. Read ballot language for everything here and see a list of what you can vote on here.
This article appears in May 1-31, 2021.