CINCINNATI — Early voting begins today across Ohio, and Southwest Ohio voters have full ballots waiting — from a statewide voter-ID amendment to county levies and school bond issues.
In Hamilton County, voters can cast early ballots in person at the county Board of Elections. Mail-in ballots must be received by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day to count under current rules.
Statewide, every Ohio voter will weigh Issue 3, a proposed constitutional amendment dealing with voter identification. Closer to home, Hamilton County’s Issue 10 would fund county children’s services, while Issue 4 is a Cincinnati public schools levy. In Butler County, voters face Issue 2, a bond issue for Lakota schools.
Congressional races are also on the ballot across the region. Ohio’s 1st District covers Cincinnati and much of Hamilton County, the 2nd covers Clermont County and southern Ohio, the 8th covers western Hamilton and Butler counties, and the 10th covers northern Butler County and the Dayton area.
County boards of elections are bracing for heavy turnout in the weeks ahead. Voters can check sample ballots, early-voting hours and polling locations through their county board of elections website before heading out.