The battle for delegates is heating up and the national spotlight is on Ohio’s upcoming primary election. We’ve got all the resources you need to particpate!
When, Where and How
The primaries are being held on Tuesday, March 4. Polls open at 6:30 a.m. and close at 7:30 p.m. To locate your neighborhood polling station and see what will be on your ballot, visit the Hamilton County Board of Elections Voter Location page.
If you’ve never voted before, read the Tips for New Voters in English or Spanish for basic information and helpful suggestions.
Voters are now required to bring a form of identification to the polling station in order to vote. A list of acceptable forms of I.D. can be found on the Secretary of State’s website.
Registered voters may request an absentee ballot. Applications for absentee ballots are available at all Library agencies two to three months before an election, or can be downloaded from the Hamilton County Board of Elections, the Butler County Board of Elections, or the Warren County Board of Elections websites. Your completed absentee ballot must be received by the Board of Elections by 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 4. If you are uncertain which Ohio district you live in, contact your local Board of Elections.
Local and State Elections
You’ll find a directory of Hamilton County contests and candidates on the League of Women Voters (LWV) of Ohio website. General information about voting on a local level is available on their homepage. The LWV website also has information about Butler, Clermont, and Warren County issues and candidates. The Ohio Secretary of State provides links to various election-related publications, including Historical Election Statisitics, and a Voter Information Guide.
To help voters with the election of judges—for some, a confusing and obscure area of the ballot—LWV offers a Voters Guide to Judicial Elections.
Election News and Results
Official results for Ohio are available from the Secretary of State and the Hamilton County Board of Elections after the polls close.
For national coverage of the 2008 primaries and caucuses, check out NPR’s special website. It’s loaded with stories, interactive graphics, and background information about the candidates and their positions on various issues. PBS and CNN have also developed special websites about the races.
For the international perspective, you’ll want to look at the Times Online and the BBC sites.
WVXU and Cincinnati.com are a couple of good local resources to consult.
Even websites for kids are covering the races! A few good sites are the Weekly Reader Election Center, Scholastic News Election 2008, and Nickelodeon’s Kids Pick the President.
Politics and Prose
A candidate’s thoughts and political philosophy committed to the page before a campaign often offers the voter useful context for understanding campaign rhetoric.
- Hillary Rodham Clinton: Living History, It Takes a Village: And Other Lessons Children Teach Us, and Dear Socks, Dear Buddy: Kids’ Letters to the First Pets
- Mike Huckabee: From Hope to Higher Ground: 12 Steps to Restoring America’s Greatness and Living Beyond Your Lifetime: How to be Intentional About the Legacy You Leave
- John McCain: Hard Call: Great Decisions and the Extraordinary People Who Made Them, Character is Destiny: Inspiring Stories Every Young Person Should Know and Every Adult Should Remember, and Worth the Fighting For: A Memoir
- Barack Obama: Dreams from my Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance and The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream,
- Ron Paul: A Foreign Policy of Freedom: Peace, Commerce, and Honest Friendship
Last, but Certainly Not Least…
Vote! Remember to bring your identification. And if you missed registration for this election, be sure to visit your public library to register in time for the next one.
