Mary Alice Reporting – A week into early voting and the elections office has been slow.
In-person voting began April 4th at the Tuscarawas County Courthouse with about 40 people having cast a ballot so far for the May 2nd Primary.
Director Gail Garbrandt says that absentee ballot requests have come in.
“And since last Tuesday, we have mailed out over 280 absentee ballots to folks who requested them. We have gotten a surge of absentee ballot requests from Dover.”
The City of Dover does see a contested primary with Shane Gunnoe and Nicholas Homrighausen vying for the Republican nomination. The winner moves to the November election against the lone Democrat nominee, Colby Byrom.
Other races with two party candidates include positions for Uhrichsville mayor, Dover council president, Dover law director, and ward’s two and four in the city of Dover.
Garbrandt notes that the board’s office hours have been extended over the next few weeks leading up to Election Day. This week and next, they are open for early voting Monday – Friday from 8am to 5pm.
“The 24th, we’re open from 7:30 in the morning until 7:30 at night. On Tuesday the 25th, we’re open from 7:30 in the morning until 8:30 at night [and] that’s the last day to request an absentee ballot by mail. Then, the 26th, 27th, and 28th we’re open from 7:30 to 7:30.”
Saturday, April 29th they will be open 8am to 4pm and Sunday 1pm to 5pm, and there is no voting on Monday, May 1st.
As part of a new requirement through H.B. 458, valid forms of Ohio identification will be needed for early in-person voting and at the polls. Details can be found at www.boe.ohio.gov/tuscarawas.
Copyright WTUZ Radio Inc., 2023