Ohioans pass issues 1 & 2 - live updates

Ideastream will continue to follow up with context and analysis of the results of the Nov. 7 general election.

Find more on our website at ideastream.org or subscribe to our newsletter, The Daily Frequency, for Northeast Ohio news every morning in your inbox.

Did you vote on a provisional ballot Tuesday because you forgot to bring a photo ID? Be sure your vote counts by going to your local board of elections and presenting a valid photo ID.

The deadline to cure your ballot is Monday, Nov. 13 at 5 p.m. Due to the Veterans Day holiday, boards of elections will be closed on Saturday.

Hours of operation for local boards of elections:

• Thursday, November 9, 2023, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
• Friday, November 10, 2023, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
• Monday, November 13, 2023, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

A software error is to blame for the Summit County Board of Elections website causing some confusion for voters and candidates Tuesday night, Deputy Director Pete Zeigler said Wednesday.

At 10 p.m., the county’s overall unofficial results reflected only 4% of precincts reporting results countywide, while the individual contests indicated 100% of precincts reported.

The board’s website vendor labeled the percentages incorrectly, Zeigler said.

“The results were all processed and reported accurately, just some of the labeling on the website was mislabeled,” Zeigler said. “It’s just a vendor issue in terms of handling the website.”

The board eventually took down the interactive page from its website and uploaded a PDF of the results.

The board’s information technology department is working with the vendor to fix the issue, he said.

Despite strong opinions on Issues 1 and 2, voter turnout for Tuesday's general election was down compared to last November.

According to unofficial county board of election data:

• Cuyahoga County saw a 45% turnout, down from the 47.39% it saw in 2022.
• Summit County yielded a 51.5% turnout, down from last year's 54.64%.
• Lorain County recorded a 50.67% turnout, down from last November's 51.93%.
• Stark County saw a 52.01% turnout, down 54.5% from last year.
• Portage County recorded a 53.27% turnout, down from 56.59% last year.

Turnout in Portage County was "not bad," said Board of Elections Deputy Director Theresa Nielsen said.

Election night went smoothly there, according to the board of elections, despite reports that results were coming in slowly.

This was because election staff had to hand count the results from several races with write-in candidates, Nielsen said.

"We actually had one entire race that was only write-in candidates, so we needed to process all of our write-in candidate information before we posted our final report," she said. "That's a labor-intensive process and so most of our information was done by probably 10:00 or 10:30 but because we had to go and physically count the write-in votes that just took longer."

Nielson said this isn't out of the ordinary for the board of elections.

Election night went smoothly in Portage County, according to the county's board of elections, despite reports that results were coming in slowly. This was due to a number of races with write-in candidates, Deputy Director Theresa Nielsen said.

"We actually had one entire race that was only write-in candidates, so we needed to process all of our write-in candidate information before we posted our final report," she said. "So that caused - I mean that's a labor intensive process and so most of our information was done by probably 10:00 or 10:30, but because we had to go and physically count the write-in votes that just took longer."

Nielson said this isn't out of the ordinary for the board of elections.

Ryan Loew

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Ideastream Public Media

Voters in several Northeast Ohio communities threw their support Tuesday night behind issues promoting access to green space and the outdoors – even when that meant slight tax increases.

Levies passed in Portage and Lorain counties to provide more funding for maintenance, conservation and expansion at the Portage Park District and Lorain County Metro Parks.

A 15-year additional levy also passed in Mentor-on-the-Lake to fund lake-front erosion prevention at Overlook Beach Park.

And Pepper Pike voted to add sidewalks along three major thoroughfares to improve walkability

➡ Read more: Northeast Ohio’s voters show support for local parks, outdoor issues

Annie Wu

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Ideastream Public Media

Voters approved a combined bond issue and school levy in Shaker Heights Tuesday that will fund renovations of the district’s elementary-through-middle-grade buildings and a boosted pre-K program.

Voters in Bedford Heights similarly approved a large bond issue to fund new buildings, while Orange voters approved a new operating levy as well.

New operating levies however were rejected at Independence and Cuyahoga Heights, meant to keep up with rising costs and to maintain programming at those
schools.

➡ Read more: 2023 Northeast Ohio school levies ran into some headwinds

A levy renewal with a slight increase for Cuyahoga Community College won voter approval by a large margin Tuesday night - about 62% to 38%.

The college has said the increase was needed to maintain its mission of access, keeping its tuition the most affordable in the state of Ohio.

It will also help fund continuing updates to its job training and workforce readiness programs.

Tri-C is majority-funded by school levies, rather than tuition like many other community colleges across the state.

J. Nungesser

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Ideastream Public Media

The participatory budgeting amendment that would have set 2% of Cleveland's budget aside for citizens to spend has been defeated, according to final unofficial vote totals.

Issue 38 was defeated 51% to 49%, according to the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections.

PB CLE, the group that campaigned for passage, issued a statement praising the grassroots effort.

"The Issue 38 campaign tapped into so much left unsaid about the sense of powerlessness many Clevelanders feel," the statement read.

"While we are disappointed by the election results, we are so proud to have stood with residents to challenge Cleveland’s entrenched political structure by putting more power into the hands of the people," it read. "No one expected us to make it as far as we did. Every single status quo politician opposed Issue 38 and many worked for its defeat."

Supporters gathered at Connect Lounge in Downtown Cleveland.

Some Northeast Ohio schools came up short Tuesday in their attempts to increase taxes through new levies, according to unofficial election results.

School districts in Mogadore, Twinsburg and Ravenna, which are facing deficits, saw their
operating levies fail as did Lake Local Schools in Stark County. Those districts will likely need to make cuts to balance their budgets.

Also in Stark County, North Canton City School District’s combined bond issue and tax levy to
fund updated schools narrowly passed, while a similar measure for Medina schools failed by a
wide margin

All 13 Akron City Council seats were up for election on Tuesday. The majority of incumbents will keep their seats, but some newcomers will join them as well.

In Ward 9, which includes Kenmore, as of 10:16 p.m., Democrat Tina Boyes was leading Republican Micah Townsend, 67% to 33% with seven of 10 precincts reporting, according to the Summit County Board of Elections.

Democrats swept the at-large seats. Incumbents Jeff Fusco and Linda Omobien, who are leading with about 29% of the vote respectively, will be joined by newcomer Eric Garrett, who has 27% of the vote.

Another newcomer to council will be Jan Davis, who beat Councilmember Russ Neal in the Democratic primary and ran unopposed in the general election. Johnnie Hannah ran unopposed for the Ward 5 seat, which is currently occupied by Councilmember Tara Mosley, who opted to run for mayor in May.

In Ward 8, James Hardy ran unopposed for the seat currently occupied by Mayor-elect Shammas Malik.

Incumbents Ward 1 Councilmember Nancy Holland, Ward 2 Councilmember Phil Lombardo, Ward 6 Councilmember Brad McKitrick, Ward 7 Councilmember Donnie Kammer and Ward 10 Councilmember Sharon Connor ran unopposed.

➡ Read more: New faces are coming to Akron City Council in 2024

Ryan Loew

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Ideastream Public Media

Canton’s next mayor is a lifelong resident and labor union leader.

Democrat William Sherer II defeated his Republican opponent Roy Scott DePew, earning 68% of the vote, according to unofficial election results.

Sherer gave his victory speech at Conestoga Grill in Downtown Canton among his family members, supporters and members of the Ironworkers Local #550. Sherer has served as the business manager of the union for nearly 20 years.

"We've got a lot of stuff to take care of in this city. Absolutely we do," Sherer said. "We are not going to be able to move this city forward without safety, and we are not going to be able to move this city forward without Canton City Schools."

➡ Read more: William Sherer II will be Canton's next mayor

Republican lawmakers are reacting to the apparent passage of State Issue 1, enshrining reproductive rights in Ohio.

House Speaker Jason Stephens said the legislature has multiple paths that it will explore to continue to "protect innocent life," adding, this is not the end of the conversation.

However, Secretary of State Frank LaRose told CBS News that will be difficult.

"The constitution is obviously the supreme law of the state, and if this constitutional amendment were to pass tonight it would supersede whatever the legislature would do. That's what's so problematic about this," LaRose said.

The Associated Press called the issue at 9 p.m. By 10:25 p.m. with 3.2 million votes counted, the yes votes lead 55% to 44%.

The Summit County Board of Elections website is causing confusion for voters and candidates Tuesday night.

As of 10 p.m., while the overall unofficial results reflected only 4% of precincts reporting results countywide, every individual contest was indicating 100% of precincts reporting.

Although she had not declared victory, Tina Boyes, who's running for Akron City Council in Ward 9, said she shared in the confusion. Boyes said she's glad the voter count isn't as low as what the site has been indicating.

With seven of 10 precincts reporting, Boyes currently leads her opponent, Micah Townsend, 1,823 to 906.

Calls to the Summit BOE have not been returned.

Democrat Shammas Malik declared victory Tuesday night, and unofficial results from the Summit County Board of Elections website showed him with an overwhelming lead over a write-in candidate.

He was expected to win the general election after his victory in the Democratic primary in May. No Republican or Independent challenger appeared on the ballot. Malik will take office on Jan. 1, 2024, succeeding Mayor Dan Horrigan who's been in office since 2015.

Malik addressed supporters at the Akron Civic Theatre where hundreds of people gathered to watch his win become official.

"It's an incredible honor. It's an incredible privilege," he said to the crowd. "I'm a product of this community, and I'm going to do my best every single day to try and serve this community."

➡ Read more: It's official: Shammas Malik will be the next mayor of Akron

Ohioans have voted to legalize recreational marijuana, becoming the 24^th state to legalize and regulate the growing, manufacturing, testing and sale of pot for any reason to people over 21.

Passage of the statute means Ohioans over 21 could have six plants per person and a dozen per residence. A 10% excise tax will be imposed on marijuana sales, along with the 5.75% state sales tax and local sales taxes up to 2.25%.

The revenue has been estimated at $218 million to over $400 million a year. Two thirds will be split evenly between a social equity and jobs program fund and funding for communities that have dispensaries. A quarter will go to addiction treatment and 3% to administration costs.

➡ Read more: Voters approve law to legalize recreational marijuana in Ohio

Ryan Loew

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Ideastream Public Media

After months of campaigning, tens of millions of dollars in advertising and political machinations from lawmakers who oppose abortion rights, Ohioans voted overwhelmingly to pass an amendment that will enshrine abortion and reproductive rights into the state’s constitution.

The Associated Press called the race a little after 9 p.m.

Ohio becomes the seventh state to vote to affirm abortion rights since the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a constitutional right to abortion in June 2022. It's also the fourth Republican-run state where voters have upheld the right to abortion.

➡ Read more: Ohioans vote to put abortion and reproductive rights in the state's constitution

J. Nungesser

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Ideastream Public Media

At Connect Lounge in Downtown Cleveland, supporters of PB Cle are watching returns on Issue 38.

PB Cle is People's Budget Cleveland, a group that wants the city to set aside 2% of its budget for a group of citizens to decide how to spend the money, an estimated $14 million.

So far, the charter amendment to create a participatory budgeting process is failing, with 53% of votes against the measure and 47% in support.

With 30% of votes counted, yes on Issue 1 is ahead 59% to 41%.

Ohio Statehouse News Bureau chief Karen Kasler points out, some bellwether counties are supporting the reproductive rights amendment.

With 21% of votes counted, 63% of votes are in support of Issue 1, an amendment which would enshrine reproductive rights in the Ohio constitution.

In Columbus at the "No on Issue 1" party, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost said he's "cautiously" optimistic.

Follow Ohio Statehouse News reporter Sarah Donaldson @SarahEDon, reporting tonight from the Center for Christian Virtue in Columbus.

At Conestoga Grill in Downtown Canton, supporters of Canton mayoral candidate William Sherer II, a Democrat, are watching election returns and waiting on their candidate's arrival.

Sherer, who is currently Canton City Council president, is facing Republican Roy Scott DePew, a notary signing agent.

With less than 10% of ballots counted, Sherer has 2,849 votes to DePew's 832.

Early returns are coming in from Election Day. All numbers are unofficial.

Cleveland voters are deciding whether to allow participatory budgeting. If passed, 2% of the city's budget will go to a group of residents to decide how the money is spent.

According to 2023 budget numbers, 2% of Cleveland's general fund is about $14 million. With 3% of the vote in, 53% is opposed, 47% is in favor.

Lorain County voters are deciding on Issue 20 - whether to change the county government from three commissioners to seven.

Backers say residents would get better representation with seven different districts making up the county government instead of three at-large commissioners.

With nearly 1% reporting, 70% are against the measure, 30% are in favor.

In the race for the mayor of Canton, Republican Roy Scott DePew, a notary signing agent, is facing Democrat William Sherer II, the president of Canton City Council.

Sherer is currently leading 77% to 22% with about 2500 votes in.

There is one Cleveland City Council race tonight. Ward 11 councilmember Danny Kelly was appointed to the position at the start of the year when Brian Mooney resigned to run for county judge. Kelly faces Michael Hardy. Kelly is leading 61% to 38%. Ward 11 represents some West Side neighborhoods including Cudell and Edgewater.

Counties across the state are seeing higher voter turnout for an odd year election. Turnout in Cuyahoga County is estimated at 43%.

Abigail Bottar

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Ideastream Public Media

Supporters of Akron mayoral candidate Shammas Malik are gathering at the Akron Civic Theatre.

In a seven-way Democratic primary in May, Malik won with 43% of the vote. He is expected to win easily tonight against write-in candidate Nathaniel Green.

With 6% of votes counted, the yes votes are far outpacing votes opposed to Ohio Issue 1 and Issue 2.

Stephanie Czekalinski

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Ideastream Public Media

While Issues 1 and 2 have received much of the attention in Tuesday's General Election, voters have sounded off on other issues that drew them to the polls.

🗣️ "Community colleges are extremely important. They're an important engine of social mobility so I really wanted to support that as well," said Jonathan Sadowsky, of Shaker Heights, on Issue 5.

Issue 5 is a 10-year, 2.1-mill levy to support Cuyahoga County Community College. The 2.1-mill levy equals $73.50 per year per $100,000 of assessed property value — an annual increase of $14.04 per $100,000.

🗣️ "I believe very much that we need to do the best we can for kids. ...This also connects to reorganization. As they are right now, we can't have K-5 in the building. There just isn't space," said Gretchen Hess, of Shaker Heights, on Issue 13.

In Shaker Heights, Issue 13 is an almost 10-mill combined bond issue, operating levy and levy to help pay for new facility upkeep. It would fund an expanded prekindergarten education program and renovate some of the district's old buildings.

🗣️ "I think that... the government and the city, they're trying to build the city up, but I think a lot of revenue is going for the entertainment purposes of it and not the fundamentals of our city," said Tameko Neuhoff, of Cleveland, on Issue 38.

In Cleveland, Issue 38 is a charter amendment proposal to give the public control of a portion of the city's budget.

→ Read more on how November's early voting outpaced August's special election.

Some college students say they never received their November ballots after submitting vote-by-mail requests.

Mia Lewis, associate director of Common Cause Ohio, said the vote tracker at the Ohio Secretary of State's office shows ballots were sent but some college voters didn't receive them.

"You can see that they mailed you a ballot but then there is kind of this black hole where you don't know what's happened then," Lewis said.

Nazek Hapasha from the Ohio League of Women Voters said they're following up with college voters concerned about not getting ballots they requested.

"We have got an extraordinarily high number of voters in the zip code of the Ohio State University that were mailed a ballot but it was not returned. So, we have been following up with them individually as much as we can wherever we can find contact information for them," Hapasha said.

If you voted early or feel like you're missing out, you can see the voting live in action from your phone or computer.

The Cuyahoga Board of Elections has a livestream camera set up overlooking its ballot drop-off box downtown. You can watch the feed on the board of election's YouTube channel.

Ohio voters have the opportunity to legalize recreational marijuana for adults Tuesday. Here's what a cross-section of voters at three different polling places had to say about it.

🗣️ "Just do it. Get it done and over with. It's just going to make it legal for you to do it, but employers are still going to make the final decision if they're going to let you do it or not," said Gary Patterson, of Columbia Station.

🗣️ "People are doing it... They're going to be taxed. It's more revenue for the city and less criminal records," said Tameko Neuhoff, of Cleveland, who supports Issue 2.

🗣️ "I was a little ambivalent on the cannabis issue because I don't think cannabis is harmless, but overall, I think historically, prohibition is not usually the most constructive way of dealing with it. I do think that cannabis can be used safely," said Jonathan Sadowsky, of Shaker Heights.

→ Read more on what Issue 2 means for use, cultivation and sale of recreational marijuana.

Stephen Langel

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Ideastream Public Media

Some voters cited Issue 1 as the force driving them to the polls Tuesday. Here's what some had to say to Ideastream Public Media reporters about the proposed constitutional amendment that would enshrine abortion access in the state's constitution.

🗣️ "We don't need to have abortion. We have our own bodies as women. We should be able to speak our mind on how we want to have our own bodies in terms of having children. For myself, I made sure that I wanted mine, and I think that for Black women, or any women, should be able to speak their minds, say this is [what I ] want for my life, this is what I want for my baby," said Candace Johnson, of Shaker Heights

🗣️ "I don't think there's anything more constitutional and American than people choosing what happens to their own bodies. Issue 1, it's so important, not only for women's freedom, but for everyone's freedom. When we have other people making medical decisions based on their own personal beliefs, that's an extremely big issue. It should be medical professionals and people that choose for themselves," said Emily Erbs, of Medina.

🗣️ "I think this is more of a woman issue. I think they need to be represented in this issue. There's some hard boundary lines on it. That needs to be represented. It's going to be very important. The whole nation's watching us on this issue," said Gary Patterson, of Columbia Station.

🗣️ "Both sides haven't been very truthful about things in their ads and in the way they express things. They take not an honest approach looking at both sides," said Henry Kowal, of Amherst.

→ Read more about what Issue 1 means for reproductive rights.

According to unofficial numbers by the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections, voter turnout was 32% as of 3:30 p.m. with 281,370 ballots cast out of a total 877,556 eligible voters. The city of Cleveland's voter turnout was at 20%.

Ryan Loew

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Ideastream Public Media

Dr. David Burkons, owner and medical director of the Northeast Ohio Women’s Center in Cuyahoga Falls, said he’s optimistic Issue 1 will pass, even though he’s seen a lot of misinformation circulating.

“For whatever reasons, I'm on some of [the opposition's] mailing lists, and the false information they send out is just incredible," Burkons said. "They realize if we win, particularly if we win significantly in a place like Ohio, it's going to bode very poorly for the right-to-life side of things

He added that even if Issue 1 passes, he expects pro-life leaders will still try to limit abortion, but said his Ohio clinics will not be in jeopardy of closing.

→ Read more on what Issue 1 means for abortion.

Ryan Loew

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Ideastream Public Media

According to the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections, 21,645 people voted early in-person for the Nov. 7, 2023 election.

Also, 96,335 voters, or 11% of registered voters in the county, requested vote-by-mail ballots.

The board of elections says 82,655 people ended up voting by mail or 86% of the total who requested these ballots.

The total number of mail-in votes include 44,410 Democrats, 16,634 Republicans, 21,587 nonpartisan voters and 24 voters from a “minor party.”

Ryan Loew

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Ideastream Public Media

Cuyahoga County was reporting a 24.52% voter turnout as of noon Tuesday. Cuyahoga County yielded a 38.51% turnout for the Aug. 8 special election and 47.28% during the 2022 November General Election.

The city of Cleveland was reporting a 15% turnout as of noon, according to Cuyahoga County Board of Election data.

→ See live voter turnout for your city from the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections.

Under a new law that took effect in April, all Ohio residents must present a current photo ID to vote.

Any of the following are acceptable:

• Ohio driver's license;
• State of Ohio ID card;
• Interim ID form issued by the Ohio BMV;
• A U.S. passport;
• A U.S. passport card;
• U.S. military ID card;
• Ohio National Guard ID card; or
• U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs ID card

If you forget to bring a photo ID, you can still cast a provisional ballot, but you must go to your local board of elections within four days and present valid identification.

Due to the Veterans Day federal holiday on Nov. 11, provisional voters have until Monday, Nov. 13 to show their photo ID.

Boards of elections hours for curing your provisional ballot are:

• Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
• Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
• Friday, Nov. 10, 2023, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
• Monday, Nov. 13, 2023, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

If you fail to present an ID during that time, your ballot will not be counted.

According to data from the August special election, nearly a third of provisional ballots were not counted due to a lack of proper photo identification.

Tamara London

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Cuyahoga Community College

Tri-C President Michael Baston said in a recent interview that approval of the 10-year, 2.1-mill levy – Issue 5 on the ballot in Cuyahoga County - will help the community college preserve its mission of improving access to higher education and job training. He says it will allow the school to continue to offer the “lowest tuition in the state of Ohio.”

It currently costs $125 per credit hour to attend the community college. That would jump to $556 per credit hour if the levy isn’t renewed, he said.

The 2.1-mill levy equals $73.50 per year per $100,000 of assessed property value in Cuyahoga County. The renewal request includes a .4-mill increase over the current levy, which represents an increase of $14.04 per year per $100,000 of assessed value.

➡ Read more about Cuyahoga County Issue 5.

Scanner issues were reported at the Fernway Elementary School polling location in Shaker Heights Tuesday morning.

Stephen Langel

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Ideastream Public Media

But as of 9:10 a.m., one of two malfunctioning scanners was working again, according to Mike West, manager of community outreach for the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections. He estimated the second broken scanner was likely operational again by 10 a.m.

Machines can sometimes become jammed when people insert their ballots wrong, West said, but issues are corrected swiftly.

When scanners break or malfunction, ballots are placed into a ballot box to be scanned later.

“That doesn’t prevent anybody from voting,” West said.

Carolyn Kaster

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AP

Some voters are noting confusion at the polls regarding Issue 1.

Ideastream Public Media's Taylor Wizner spoke with voters on both sides of the issue who say they voted mistakenly, based on how they previously voted on the August special election's Issue 1.

"It seems people are a little confused about Issue 1," Wizner said on WKSU's the "Sound of Ideas." "People told me that they wanted to approve the abortion amendment but had voted no. They were confused by how they voted in August."

Outside a polling site in Medina, one woman realized she'd voted no when she meat to vote yes on Issue 1.

"That's probably more important than anything on there," she said. "That's terrible. OK, we got tricked."

Another man said he voted yes for Issue 1, though he meant to oppose it, citing concerns about parental rights.

In August, Ohio voters rejected the former Issue 1, a separate amendment that would have made it more difficult to amend the state constitution by raising the threshold for passing amendments beyond a simple majority.

Today's Issue 1 is the Right to Reproductive Freedom with Protections for Health and Safety amendment. If passed, the proposed constitutional amendment would enshrine reproductive rights for individuals.

→ Read more about the difference between August's Issue 1 and November's.

Mark Urycki

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Portage Park District

Portage County voters are being asked to consider a new funding levy for the Portage Park District that would secure additional funding for maintenance, expansion and conservation.

The issue would replace the Portage Park District’s current levy with one that would increase funding for the district to $4.54 million per year.

If the levy passes, the park district plans to use funds for small projects, like trail repairs, along with developments and expansions of Kent Bog State Nature Preserve in Brimfield, Headwaters Trail and a 550-acre property in Shalersville Township, Executive Director Christine Craycroft said.

➡ Read more about Portage County Issue 31 to fund the Portage Park District.

Ryan Loew

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Ideastream Public Media

Eight candidates are vying for three open Akron Public Schools Board of Education seats in November, only one of whom is an incumbent.

The slate of candidates includes former Ohio Rep. Barbara Sykes (D-Akron), the board’s former president Patrick Bravo (from 2012 to 2021), and incumbent Rene Molenaur, who was appointed to an open seat in April.

The other candidates are: Gwen Bryant, an instructional coach; Summer L. Hall, a community outreach liaison for the city of Akron; Keith Mills, an intervention specialist at Cleveland Metropolitan School District and a candidate in the 2023 Democratic primary for Akron mayor; Phil Montgomery, director of finance and budget at Summit County; and Myron J. Lewis, a retired chemical dependency counselor.

➡ Read more about the candidates for Akron school board.

Tony Dejak

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AP

If passed, the citizen-initiated ballot measure could create a new law under the Ohio Revised Code that would legalize growth, sales and use of recreational marijuana.

Adults 21 and older would be permitted to legally grow and cultivate up to six plants within their home, or up to 12 plants total per household. For example, a household with four eligible adults could only grow 12 plants, according to the law proposal's text.

Cultivators and dispensaries already licensed for medicinal marijuana will also receive adult-use recreational licenses within nine months, assuming they fit all requirements, according to the ballot text. They would also have the opportunity to expand their current operations based on their license level.

Home growers would not be permitted to sell their product.

➡ Read more about growing and selling recreational marijuana under Issue 2.

Stephen Langel

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Ideastream Public Media

Polling locations opened at 6:30 a.m. amid overcast fall weather with temperatures in the mid 50s.

There were no lines at the Shaker Family Center polling location in Shaker Heights around 7:45 a.m.

"I've been voting since I was kid. I've never missed an election, and I'm not about to," said Kimberly Trumbo of Shaker Heights. "I'd like to see a good turnout. It's a beautiful day. Usually, it's snowing this time of year so people should get out."

→ Find your polling location on the Ohio Secretary of State website.

November's Issue 1 is the Right to Reproductive Freedom with Protections for Health and Safety amendment. If passed, the proposed constitutional amendment would enshrine reproductive rights for individuals, according to the ballot language. Those rights include decisions on abortion, contraception, fertility treatment, miscarriage care and continuing pregnancy, the language states.

In August, Ohio voters rejected the former Issue 1, a separate amendment that would have made it more difficult to amend the state constitution by raising the threshold for passing amendments beyond simple majority rule.

In simpler terms, approval of August's Issue 1 would have made it more difficult to pass November's.

➡ Read more about the difference between today's Issue 1 compared to August's Issue 1.

KaryB

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Shutterstock

In addition to ensuring abortion access, the proposed Right to Make Reproductive Decisions Including Abortion Initiative would also protect the right to other reproductive health choices.

The ballot language states, "Every individual has a right to make and carry out one's own reproductive decisions, including but not limited to decisions on contraception, fertility treatment, continuing one's own pregnancy, miscarriage care and abortion."

The ballot language goes on to state that approval of the amendment would ensure that the state cannot interfere with or penalize individuals who exercise the aforementioned reproductive actions.

➡ Read more about Issue 1 and birth control.

Kelly Krabill

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Ideastream Public Media

Canton voters are choosing a new mayor today. It's the first election in decades without an incumbent. Republican Roy Scott DePew, a notary signing agent, is up against Canton City Council President William Sherer II.

“I really believe that we need to change our focus for the city of Canton, and it has to be about safety,” Sherer told Ideastream Public Media. “And we have to start investing in our neighborhoods in this city and investing in the people that live in those neighborhoods.”

“I think we're soft on crime here. I think that our courts are soft on crime,” DePew said. ”We need to get back to where people are starting to be held accountable for doing the things that they're doing.”

➡ Read about the candidates, including their high school connection, and their positions on public safety, the economy and education in our Canton mayor voter guide.

Lisa Young

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Shutterstock

In Portage County, people with disabilities can request to vote curbside at their polling location. They'll need a helper to notify poll workers who will bring a ballot to the vehicle.

In Stark County, designated curbside parking spots are available at every precinct for those who are unable to leave their car to vote.

Inside, polls meet the standards set out in the Americans with Disabilities Act, according to Stark County Board of Elections Deputy Director Regine Johnson.

“If the person needs ... accessibility equipment, they mention it when they check-in, and they are then set up on that particular machine,” Johnson said.

In Cuyahoga County, certain polling places are staffed with Spanish-speaking poll workers because they meet the required population thresholds, said Mike West, the manager of community outreach for the Cuyahoga Board of Elections.

➡ Read more about special voting accommodations for people with language barriers or disabilities.

Shaker Heights City School District

The Shaker Heights City School District is hoping for voter support to expand its prekindergarten education program and renovate some of its old buildings. Elsewhere in Northeast Ohio, Springfield Local School District says it needs voter support for a levy to bring back more basic things like busing for high school students.

Across Northeast Ohio this November, there are several dozen school levies and bond issues like these on the ballot.

In North Ridgeville City School District’s case, the district hopes voters will approve a slimmed-down tax increase — 6.26 mills rather than 8.32 mills, which amounts to $219 per year per $100,000 of property valuation — to build a new high school. Its bond issue request in the spring, which would have replaced an elementary school as well, failed by just 40 votes.

➡ Read more about school levies in Cuyahoga, Lorain, Mahoning, Medina, Stark and Summit counties.

Lauren Green

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Ideastream Public Media

Passage of the citizen-initiated statute could legalize and regulate recreational marijuana within the state. This includes cultivation, processing, sale, purchase, possession and home growth of marijuana for adults age 21 or older, according to the ballot language.

Adults could possess up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana and up to 15 grams of marijuana concentrates, as well as grow up to six marijuana plants at home. Households would be allowed to cultivate up to 12 plants collectively, the ballot states.

➡ Read more about Issue 2, the Marijuana Legalization Initiative.

Ryan Loew

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Ideastream Public Media

Passage of Issue 1 would establish Ohio’s constitutional right to "make and carry out one’s own reproductive decisions,” meaning the government can’t interfere in reproductive health matters, according to the ballot language. This includes decisions on abortion, contraception, fertility treatment, miscarriage care and continuing pregnancy, the language states.

Abortions could still be prohibited after fetal viability under the proposed amendment. The ballot language includes exceptions in cases where a doctor determines a pregnant patient’s life or health is in jeopardy.

Fetal viability is typically around 24 weeks of gestational age, according to the National Institutes of Health.

If voters reject Issue 1, reproductive decisions remain with the state.

➡ Read more about the Right to Reproductive Freedom with Protections for Health and Safety amendment.