2015 GENERAL ELECTION VOTING BEGINS ON TUESDAY!

UPDATED:  MONDAY, OCTOBER 5

To Be Updated & Republished on a Continuing Basis Through Election Day

Who will be the next mayor of Canton:  "Independent" Thomas M. Bernabei or Democrat William J. Healy, II?

• Bernabei Facebook Page
• Healy Facebook Page

Will Curtis Werren finally get elected to something?

• Guardado Facebook Page
• Werren Facebook Page

Former mayor Frank Cicchinelli returns in Massillon?

• Cicchinelli Facebook Page
• Catazaro-Perry Facebook Page

Will Alliance voters validate Democratic Party appointee Steve Okey as president of Alliance City Council?

• No Facebook Links Found for Either Candidate

Is Jackson Township on a track to elect a political newcomer as trustee in candidate Troy Gardner?

• Gardner Facebook Page
• No Link Found for Walters

Will Cantonians decide to go charter government?

• Canton Charter Commission Facebook Page
• No Link Found for Opposition to Issue

• Identified Charter Commission Candidates FB Pages
• Curran
• Scott
• Simpson
• Miller
• Wyatt
• Harris
• Burgett
• Mussulin
• Fisher
• Thompson

Redistricting in Ohio:  a no-brainer?

• Webpage Link for Pro-Redistricting
• No Link Found for Opposition

These are among a number of matters that local and state voters will decide beginning on Tuesday, October 6th some 29 days before the final voting day of November 6th when remaining registered voters either show up at the polls and vote or forever hold their peace in the results of the 2015 elections.

Ohioans which of course includes Stark Countians can vote before November 6th beginning on this coming Tuesday in the following to ways:  (text from the Stark County Board of Elections website)

Absentee Voting

How to Vote Early

Voters have two options to cast their ballot early.  Both options offer voters the flexibility to cast their ballot when it works best for them.

• Vote in person at the Board of Elections

• Request a ballot by mail  

In-Person voting

Voters may vote early in person at the Stark County Board of Elections office starting 29 days prior to the election.

Voters will be required to complete an application that requests identification information.

In-Person voting will take place from October 6th – November 2nd. The hours for in-person voting are below:

October 6 – October 23       8:00 am – 5:00 pm (Monday - Friday)

October 26 – October 30     8:00 am – 7:00 pm (Monday – Friday)

October 31                          8:00 am – 4:00 pm (Saturday)

November 1                        1:00 pm – 5:00 pm (Sunday)

November 2                        8:00 am – 2:00 pm (Monday)

You will be required to fill out an application to vote in-person. On this application, you will be required to provide a form of identification. 

The office is located at:

3525 Regent Ave NE
Canton, Ohio 44705

Vote By Mail

Voters may request and absentee ballot by mail.  Ballots are mailed starting 29 days prior to the election.

Voting by mail takes place October 6th - November 2nd.

Below are the steps you need to complete in order to successfully vote by mail:

• Step 1 - Complete an application form. (In order for a ballot to be mailed to you, an application form will need to be filled out for each election.) Download an application form.
• Step 2 - Mail the completed form to the Stark County Board of Elections.
• Step 3 - Once your form is received and processed a ballot will be mailed to you beginning October 6th.
• Step 4 - Fill out your ballot and ID envelope completely.
• Step 5 - Mail your ballot back to the Board of Elections. Congratulations your ballot has been cast!

In order for your application to be accepted, the following information MUST be correct on the form:

• Your name and voting residence
• Your birthdate and proper identification information (see application)
• Statement that you are a qualified elector
• The election for which you are requesting a ballot
• Your party choice if the election is a primary, or that you want to vote an issues-only ballot
• The mailing address to which you want your ballot sent
• Your signature

For your absentee ballot to be counted, it must be received as follows:

1. If cast from anywhere in the U.S. and you return it by mail, it must be postmarked* (the day before the election) and received by the board of elections no later than 10 days after the election. If you return it in person or if a near relative delivers it to the board for you, it must be delivered to the board of elections no later than the close of polls on Election Day.
2. If you are a voter outside the U.S. on Election Day, your ballot envelope must be signed and postmarked by the close of polls on Election Day and received by your county board of elections not later than the 20th day after the presidential primary election or by the 10th day after a special or general election.
3. If returned in-person to the board of elections, absentee ballots must be received at your local county board of elections on Election Day by 7:30 p.m. (the close of the polls).

* Postmarked does not include a date marked by a postage evidence system such as a postage meter.

Before voting, voters need to be an informed about the candidates and issues:

A key source for voters to have information on candidates and issues is from the Canton/Ohio League of Women Voters (LINK: Canton LWV; LINK: Ohio LWV).

For Stark County candidates, issues and statewide issues a prime source of information is the recently distributed LWV Voters Guide, to wit:

And, of course, there are The Stark County Political Report blogs.

For instance, if a reader wants to find blogs on the Guardado/Werren race for Canton Municipal Court judgeship race, an easy access is to "Google:"

Guardado Werren Stark County Political Report.

Voting is a fundamental expression of support for our "greatest in the world" democratic-republican system of government!