Early voting for the Cuyahoga County September 9 primary officially kicked off on Tuesday, signaling the start of the electoral process for various local government seats. Specific to this year's election, voters in seven Cleveland wards will head to the early polls, aiming to narrow down their City Council races. This is particularly notable as only these wards feature races with more than two candidates vying for the same seat, as per details from Ideastream.
In preparation for the primary, several significant changes have been implemented. One of the changes made, voters must visit the new location of the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections, now found on Superior Avenue and East 18th Street, to cast their in-person ballots prior to election day. Anthony Perlatti, the Director of the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections, told Cleveland19, "Having this space allows for us to be able to set up more voting booths, more scanners, to get people through the process that much quicker."
The primary isn't a countywide event this year but focuses on specific areas, including six cities. Unique to this election, the City of Cleveland recently underwent redistricting, reducing the number of wards from 17 to 15. As a result, voters can expect new ward boundaries that might have altered which ward they are now assigned to. Information on these changes can be found on the council’s website, as stated in an Ideastream report.
For those eager to avoid the lines on election day, they should note that the early in-person voting schedule begins from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays at the Board of Elections office up until August 29. The schedule then becomes more variable closer to the primary date, with extended hours, as detailed in a Cleveland.com article, including opening from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. on September 2 and the addition of weekend hours. It's worth noting that parking for voters will now be located in the back of the new building, which should offer more convenience and accessibility for in-person voters.
For Cuyahoga County residents not able to vote in person, mail-in ballots remain an option, with applications available through the Board of Elections website or by calling their office. The Board must receive forms by 8:30 p.m. on September 2. The deadline for online voter registration, or for updating addresses, was on the preceding Monday, as highlighted by Cleveland.com.
