October 23, 2006

Below are the ODS News! items for October 23rd, 2006, regarding important voting information for the upcoming November 7th election:

 

1. Election Day is Tuesday, November 7th.  
2. Central Ohio Candidate Forums Scheduled for This Week.
3. Possible Forum Questions and Topics to Consider.
4. Ways to Vote – Absentee Ballot or At The Polls?

5. Voting Resources / Contact Information.


1. Election Day is Tuesday, November 7th.  

The citizens of Ohio will be voting on many state and local offices and ballot initiatives. We encourage you to be informed about the choices and certainly encourage you to vote in the General Election on November 7th.


2. Central Ohio Candidate Forums Scheduled for This Week

In an effort to help you be informed, we encourage you to attend one of the Central Ohio Candidate Forums listed below:
 
Tuesday, October 24, 6:30 p.m. - Congregation Beth Tikvah; 6121 Olentangy River Road (map)
Wednesday, October 25, 6:30 p.m. - Temple Israel; 5416 East Broad Street (map)
Thursday, October 26, 6:30 p.m. - Brookwood Presbyterian Church; 2685 East Livingston Avenue (map)
Friday, October 27, 9:30 p.m. - Leo Yassinoff Jewish Community Center; 1125 College Avenue (map)


3. Possible Forum Questions and Topics to Consider.

Often at candidate forums, the audience is allowed to ask questions.  The Coalition for Affordable Healthcare in Ohio has drafted guiding questions that voters may want to consider asking candidates either at the Forums, or privately (via phone call, email or letter).  Some examples of questions are as follows:

Access and Affordability:
What specific actions will you take to ensure that Ohioans with disabilities have coverage for the health care they need at an affordable price?

Revenue:
To extend affordable health care to more Ohioans will take resources. Yet today low and middle-income families are working hard, playing by the rules, and already pay their fair share in taxes. How would you ensure the state has adequate revenues to expand health care coverage in a way that's fair to all Ohioans?

Medicaid:
Medicaid provides a critical safety net for vulnerable populations. How would you address growing state Medicaid demands without cutting access to needed health care for the poor, elderly and persons with disabilities?

Prescription Drugs:
While prescription drug cost has taken a toll on family incomes, drug companies have seen record profits. What strategies would you support to lower costs and improve access to affordable prescription drugs?


4. Ways to Vote – Absentee Ballot or At the Polls?

 

Absentee Ballot
Anyone in Ohio who is registered to vote may vote by absentee ballot. Unlike previous elections, you do not have to give a reason why you want to vote by absentee ballot ­ any reason is valid. If you are a "regular voter" (someone who is not militia, in the armed services, overseas or a provisional voter), you can:

… Go in person to your county Board of Elections office and ask for an absentee ballot.

… You can vote with your absentee ballot while you are there at the Board of Elections office, or you can take your ballot with you. (Note: if you fill out the absentee ballot at the Board of Elections make sure to bring proof of identification ­ see below.)

 

… Request an absentee ballot in writing from the Board of Elections office in the county where you are registered to vote and ask them to send you an absentee    ballot.

 

Ask for an absentee ballot by writing a letter, or by filling out an absentee ballot request form.  You can get a request form from the Secretary of State¹s Web site http://www.sos.state.oh.us/sos/electionsVoter/forms/11a.pdf. Your county Board of Elections may also have a request form.

You will have to submit personal information when you request an absentee ballot -Your letter or request form must include the following information:

… Your name
… Your signature or other legal mark
… A statement that says you are a qualified voter
… The address where you are registered to vote
… Your birth date
… Which election you want the ballot for (for example, November 7, 2006 Election)
… If you want your absentee ballot mailed to you, the address where you want it sent

You also must include something that identifies who you are.  You can include one of the following:


… Your Ohio driver's license number
… The last four numbers of your Social Security number
… A copy of your current and valid photo identification
… Military identification 
… A current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows your name and current address. (Note: You   cannot show a notice that the board of elections mailed to you as proof of who you are.)

Please make sure you request your absentee ballot far enough in advance for the Board of Elections to receive your request and mail you the ballot. You will then also need to allow enough time, if mailing your absentee ballot back to the Board of Elections.  You may also take your absentee ballot directly to the Board of Elections office in person by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day.    

The County Board of Elections must receive your completed absentee ballot by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day.  

When mailing your absentee ballot, you may need to put extra postage (more stamps) on the absentee ballot envelope. Our understanding is that this election¹s absentee ballot will cost $0.63 in postage to mail.

 

 

Voting at the Polls

Unlike previous elections, new laws require that registered voters who are going to vote at the polls must have proof of identification and be able to show it to the poll workers.  

Please remember to bring with you to the polls one of the following acceptable forms of identification:

State Identification Current and Valid

… Driver's License Current and Valid

… Military ID with Current Name and Address

… Copy of Utility Bill with Name and Current Address

… Bank Statement with Name and Current Address

… Paycheck with Name and Current Address

… Government Check with Name and Current Address

… Government Documentation with Name and Current Address

5. Voting Resources / Contact Information.

The following is a list of websites and phone numbers that you may use if you have any questions, concerns, or experience problems voting:  

Franklin Co. Board of Elections
www.FranklinCountyOhio.gov/BOE   
614-462-3100

Ohio Secretary of State
www.state.oh.us/sos  
1-877-767-6446

Ohio Legal Rights Service
www.olrs.ohio.gov   
1-800-282-9181

Statewide Election Hotline
1-866-687-8683