A lot has been said about the importance of people exercising their right to vote.
However, perhaps more emphasis needs to be placed upon voters conducting research about the candidates and issues that will appear on their ballots.
So if you’re one of those folks who intends to vote in the Nov. 4 General Election, but really have no idea about whom you might elect or what levies you’ll pass or reject, we have some ideas on ways to become knowledgeable.
First, check out the elections board website in your county to find out the candidate races and levy issues for which you’ll be able vote. These websites should have a box to click on for sample ballots.
While each county’s elections board website might be set up a bit differently, they generally all have systems where you can fill in either your name, or hometown and voting precinct. With another click, you’ll then be able view a sample of the ballot you’d use for the actual election.
Make sure you look at all information on that sample ballot, from top to bottom. That’s because there might be candidate races for which you weren’t expecting to make decisions.
For instance, Madison School District includes a small section of Thompson Township in Geauga County. To be specific, there are 26 registered voters in Thompson who are eligible to vote in the Nov. 4 Madison School Board race, according to Geauga County Elections Board records.
Granted, the registered voters in that part of Thompson Township who are longtime residents probably know that they vote in the Madison School Board race. But anyone who recently moved to this section of Thompson and has no school-age children might not be aware of that.
Another noteworthy example is that registered voters in Perry and North Perry villages also cast ballots in the Perry Township trustees election. So voters from all three of those communities will decide the fate of three candidates who are seeking to win two Perry Township trustee seats on Nov. 4.
To learn more about some of the local candidates who are running for elected offices on Nov. 4, keep in mind that reporters from The News-Herald have been writing stories about contested races in Lake County and parts of eastern Cuyahoga County.
Some of those races that have drawn substantial numbers of competitors include:
• Six candidates are seeking three seats on Madison School Board. Those hopefuls are incumbents Michelle Hayes and Jeff Thompson, and challengers Cameron Hamman, Ben Holt, Jessica S. Martin and Sidolera Stani.
At least one new board representative will be chosen, as incumbent Shawn Douglas is not seeking re-election.
• Eight candidates are battling for three Riverside School Board seats.
Joseph Audino, Scott Fishel, Belinda Glavic Grassi, Dennis Keeney, Josh Pollock, Kati Tomco, Jimmielee Vires and Christian Weiss III will all be on the ballot.
Fishel and Grassi currently serve on the board and were elected in 2021, while Keeney currently serves on the board and was appointed to a vacant seat in 2024.
• Seven residents are vying to be Leroy Township trustees.
Linda Burhenne, Roy Greig, Corey Keeney, Joseph Radmore, Jason Rodgers, Heather Shelton and Stephen Todd are running for two seats on the trustee board. Rodgers and Shelton currently hold those seats.
Another way to find out more about candidates is to check if they have a website or Facebook page for their election campaign.
These are good places to review each candidate’s platform and see how it conforms to your preferences.
Voters also are reminded to keep an eye on their mailboxes and doorsteps this fall to see if candidates produce any brochures, fliers or other printed material on what they’ll do if elected.
When it comes to levy or charter issues on the Nov. 4 ballot, we would advise that you understand what you’re voting for or against, and see how it will affect your personal finances or other aspects of your community.
News-Herald reporters also have written stories this fall about levy issues and other ballot questions in Lake, Geauga and eastern Cuyahoga counties.
One of those financial issues is a five-year, 5.5-mill additional levy for fire and emergency medical services in Leroy Township.
If approved, the levy would generate $1,011,705 per year and cost property owners $193 per $100,000 in appraised property valuation, according to the Lake County Auditor’s Office.
Township Fire Chief Mike Toman said that the department is facing cost increases that providers are attributing to the pandemic and tariffs.
Early voting begins in Ohio on Oct. 7 and will continue through Nov. 2. Absentee voting by mail also begins Oct. 7 and ends with ballots postmarked by Nov. 3.
In conclusion, The News-Herald encourages all registered voters to do their homework before voting in the Nov. 4 election. That way, your votes can best support the ways you believe your community or school district should be governed, and how you want your tax dollars spent.
