Early

Voting

Uproar

Measures to limit

early voting hours

cause dispute

among state +

county officials

just weeks before

Election Day

Columbus—Since the 129th General Assembly kicked off at the beginning of 2011, voting and elections policy has

been a heated topic. There have been laws passed and repealed, ballot language approved and scrapped, and nearly

every branch of government weighing in. Recently, a flurry of directives from the Secretary of State’s office and court

rulings have left some voters wondering when they will be able to cast a ballot this fall.

In July, many local boards of elections deadlocked on how to establish extended early voting hours. Stepping in to

break the tie, Secretary of State Jon Husted limited early voting times in these counties to the standard business

hours of the board of elections. Because this created disparities among counties—some voters would have additional

time to vote and others would not—Husted then declared reduced uniform hours statewide and eliminated weekend

early voting opportunities across the state.

However, uniform hours do not create fair outcomes for voters. Cuyahoga County, for example, has the same

population of the smallest 38 counties combined. These differences must be taken into account to ensure that

voters will, in fact, have the opportunity to vote. During the 2008 election, there were nearly 200,000 ballots cast

during nights and weekends of early voting—opportunities that will not be available to Ohioans this year because of

new restrictions. Though weekday early voting hours appear to be set, a federal judge recently overturned state law

and reinstated the three days of early voting immediately before the election on November 6. The Secretary of State,

along with Attorney General Mike DeWine, have chosen to appeal the ruling.

EARLY VOTING HOURS

Hours as of Sept. 18:

October 2—5: 8am to 5pm

October 9: 8am to 9pm

October 10—12: 8am to 5pm

October 15—19: 8am to 5pm

October 22—26: 8am to 7pm

October 29—Nov. 1: 8am to7pm

November 2: 8am to 6pm

It has not yet been determined

whether Ohioans will be allowed to

vote on the three days before

Election Day.

Rules of Early voting

Engagement begins October 2

Voter registration deadline is Oct. 9

Visit boe.cuyahogacounty.us to check your registration

status

If you voted in one of the previous two elections, you

are still registered.

If you have moved since your last vote, you need to

update your voter registration. Otherwise, you will cast

a provisional ballot.

October 2 through November 2, Monday—Friday

*Pending litigation could affect early voting

days

Send Vote by Mail applications to:

Cuyahoga County Board of Elections

Vote by Mail

2925 Euclid Avenue

Cleveland, Ohio 44115-2497

Registered voters should have received Vote by

Mail applications from the Secretary of State. Only

voters who are currently registered, or have

registered on or before July 30th will get an

application in the first mailing. If you wish to vote

by mail and have not received an application,

please contact the Board of Elections. If you

request an absentee ballot, you must vote using

that absentee ballot.

Call the voter information hotline for more

information: 216/443.3298

or visit www.boe.cuyahogacounty.us.

Where?

Cuyahoga County

Board of Elections

2925 Euclid Avenue

Cleveland, OH

44115 map it

When?

7PM on Monday,

October 1st —

8AM on Tuesday,

October 2nd *If you can’t camp out with us all night, come in the

evening or the morning to show your support.

Why?

To demonstrate support for early voting,

camp out on the night of October 1st with

community leaders, elected officials,

members of the faith community, and your

fellow Ohioans! Because of new restrictions

on early voting in Ohio, it is even more

important to vote early this year!

VOTER ID:

WHAT TO BRING TO THE POLLS

You can use the following forms of ID :

Driver’s license

State/Federal issued photo ID

Military ID

A copy of the following

containing your current address:

Utility bill

Bank statement

Government check

Paycheck

Government Document

WHAT’S UP IN Cleveland Italian Film Festival Sept. 13 to Oct. 4 | Tickets $10

www.littleitalycleveland.com

Love + Mozart The Cleveland Orchestra

Severance Hall | 11001 Euclid Ave.

Thurs., Oct. 4 from 8PM to 9:45PM

Sat., Oct. 6 from 8PM to 9:45PM

Cost: FREE

Visit www.clevelandorchestra.com or

Cuyahoga Valley

Heritage Concerts NewFound Road

October 12 | 8PM—10PM

Happy Days Lodge

500 W. Streetsboro Rd.

Peninsula, Ohio 44264

Price: $17/adult, $5/child 3-12

Visit www.nps.gov/cuva or call

330/650-4636 ext. 228

Museum of Contemporary Art Public Grand Opening, October 8

11400 Euclid Ave. at University Circle

Visit www.mocacleveland.org or call

216/421.8671

Price: FREE

Step Out: Walk to Stop Diabetes October 6 | 9AM to 1PM

Galleria at Erieview

1301 East 9th Street

Visit www.diabetes.org/stepout or

call 216/328.9989

Gather your friends, family and co-

workers to enjoy a wonderful fall morn-

ing walk, winding the streets and parks

of downtown Cleveland.

Little Italy Fall Art Walk Oct. 5 — Oct. 8 | Noon

Little Italy, Murray Hill

Columbus Day Parade:

Monday at Noon

Owls + Howls Kid’s

Halloween Party CLE Museum of Natural History

1 Wade Oval Drive

Saturday, October 23 | 11AM-4PM

Treat your family to a kid-friendly

event celebrating animal enrich-

ment combined with a special Hal-

loween party at the Museum. Come

in costume, help make pumpkin

treats for the animals in the Perkins

Wildlife Center and see what tricks

they can play!

Cost: Free with museum admission.

Costumed children 12 and under

Mary Cassatt + the Feminine

Ideal in 19th-Century Paris Museum of Art at 11150 East Blvd.

10AM-5PM | FREE | Oct 13–Jan 21

clevelandart.org | 216/421.7350

Stewardship Saturdays Through October 27 | 9AM-12PM

Nature Center at Shaker Lakes

2600 S. Park Blvd., Shaker Heights

Invasive plant removal and planting,

etc.

In 1968, Congress authorized President Lyndon B. Johnson

to proclaim a week in September as National Hispanic

Heritage Week.

The observance was expanded in 1988 to a month-long cel-

ebration. During this month, America celebrates the

culture and traditions of U.S. residents who trace their roots

to Spain, Mexico and the Spanish-speaking nations of

Central America, South America, and the Caribbean.

September 15 was chosen as the starting point for the

celebration because it is the anniversary of independence of

five Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador,

Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico

and Chile celebrate their independence days on September

16 and September 18, respectively.

With many backgrounds and diverse histories, all Americans

can unite during this celebration of the opportunity that this

nation has afforded those willing to strive for success.

National

Hispanic

Heritage

Month

September 15 —

October 15

1 Capitol Square, Room 223

Columbus, Ohio 43215

T: 614/466.4583

F: 614/644.6164

Toll-free: 800/282.0253

turner@ohiosenate.gov

www.ohiosenate.gov

Adam Warren Legislative Aide

Olga Hesch Administrative Aide

Matthew Adair LSC Fellow

Dominique Mosbly Office Page

Pension

Plans

Progress

New law will

provide long-term

stability to state

pension funds

Columbus—On September 12, the Ohio Senate voted to accept amendments to five

pension plan bills made by the House, passing necessary changes that will keep

Ohio’s public employee retirement systems solvent.

Senate Bills 340, 341, 342, 343, and 345 were jointly sponsored by Senate Minority

Leader Eric H. Kearney and Senate President Tom Niehaus in a show of bipartisan

collaboration just weeks before an historic election. The legislative measures, which

will prevent the loss of about $1 million per day from the retirement systems, passed

with full support in the Senate and nearly unanimous support in the House.

The five bills will allow the retirement boards for Teachers (STRS), School Employees

(SERS), State Highway Patrol (HPRS), and Police and Fire (OP&F) to make some future

benefits adjustments without approval from the legislature, but still requires action

from the General Assembly to alter Public Employees (PERS) benefits.

Taking effect in January 2013, these bills will affect more than 1.8 million active and

retired public employees in Ohio and will spare drastic cuts to benefits in the future.

Senator Turner supported all pieces of legislation as positive examples of bipartisan-

ship and much-needed reform, voting in the affirmative on each bill.