It’s voting time, Hamilton County. The Ohio primaries are on May 6, and you can be in and out of your polling location fast with only a few (but important) bubbles to fill in:
Schools
Depending on where you live in Hamilton County, you may be asked to vote on some local school levies:
Princeton City School District: 6.61 mills/10 years to avoid an operating deficit
Mount Healthy City School District: 3 mills/5 years for current operating expenses
A “mill” is $1 per $1,000 of a property’s assessed value.
Issue 2
Voters will be asked to decide whether or not to renew a program that helps local governments pay for public infrastructure projects. Enough “Yes” votes for Issue 2 would allow the state to borrow $2.5 billion to fund the State Capital Improvement Program, which helps cover municipal projects like roads, bridges, wastewater treatment, etc. The program is wildly favored on both sides of the aisle; lawmakers from both parties in both Ohio chambers support the issue.
If voters approve, the Ohio Public Works Commission will be in charge of funding local projects with competitive grants and no-interest loans.
Here’s the language you’ll see on your ballot for Issue 2:
Proposed by Joint Resolution of the General Assembly To enact Section 2t of Article VIII of the Constitution of the State of Ohio A majority yes vote is required for the adoption of Section 2t.
This proposed amendment would:
1. Authorize the state to issue bonds or other obligations to finance or assist in financing public infrastructure capital improvements for local governments and other governmental entities. Capital improvement projects would be limited to roads and bridges, waste water treatment systems, water supply systems, solid waste disposal facilities, storm water and sanitary collection, storage, and treatment facilities.
2. Determine that such capital improvements are necessary to preserve and expand the public infrastructure, ensure public health, safety and welfare, create and preserve jobs, enhance employment opportunities, and improve the economic welfare of the people of Ohio.
3. Limit the total principal amount of the state general obligations issued under the amendment to no more than $2.5 billion over a ten-year period. Any principal amount that could have been issued in any prior fiscal year, but was not issued, may subsequently be issued.
4. Require that obligations issued under this amendment mature no later than thirty (30) years after their date of issuance, and that any obligation issued to retire or refund other obligations mature no later than the permitted maturity date for the obligations being retired or refunded.
5. Authorize the General Assembly to pass laws implementing this amendment, including laws establishing procedures for incurring and issuing obligations, and laws providing for the use of Ohio products, materials, services and labor to the extent possible. If approved, the amendment shall take effect immediately.
A “YES” vote means approval of the amendment. A “NO” vote means disapproval of the amendment.
Cincinnati mayoral race
Cincinnati voters will weed out one candidate for Cincinnati mayor on May 6, leaving the top two contenders on the ballot for Nov. 4. Incumbent Aftab Pureval is the lone Democrat up against Republicans Cory Bowman and Brian Frank.
Cory Bowman: -Brother of JD Vance
-Founding pastor of The River Church
-Owner of Kings Arm Coffee in West End
Brian Frank:
-Retired P&G executive
-Served in the Navy
-Supports mayoral oversight of Cincinnati Public School Board
When to vote
Early voting runs until election day, and you can cast your absentee ballot until May 5. Find hours here. Polls are open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on election day.
What to bring
Ohio requires all voters to present a valid photo ID to vote.
- Acceptable forms include:
- Ohio driver’s license
- Ohio ID card
- Interim ID form issued by the BMV
- U.S. passport or passport card
- U.S. military ID, Ohio National Guard ID or VA ID card
These acceptable forms of ID must have a photo and cannot be expired. Poll workers will accept identification that lists your previous address as long as it has not expired and meets all other criteria. Suspended licenses, as long as they are unexpired, are acceptable.
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This article appears in Apr 16-29, 2025.