Cuyahoga County Board of Elections has begun a search for a new early voting location

Voters take advantage of early voting at the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections during the 2018 General Election

The Cuyahoga County Board of Elections has initiated the process of selecting a new building for early voting.

At today’s Board meeting, Director Pat McDonald was asked by the Board to launch a search for an early voting center that is better suited to accommodate large numbers of voters. Currently people cast early ballots at the Board headquarters located at 2925 Euclid Avenue in downtown Cleveland.

The Board hopes to identify the new facility as soon as possible in order to move early voting prior to the 2020 Presidential Election year. “Well over 50,000 people are expected to vote early in the 29 days that lead up to the March Primary and the Presidential General Elections,” said Pat McDonald, the Director of the Board of Elections. “Early voting has created traffic congestion, parking shortages and lines that can form out the doors and down the street. A new location will hopefully overcome these challenges and improve our service,” said McDonald.

The Board is seeking a location that would be large enough to serve thousands of voters per day, provide ample parking, and is located close to public transportation.

McDonald is encouraging commercial real estate agents, private land owners and the general public to contact the Board if they have a location in mind that may be able to serve its needs. “Other counties have been very creative and successful in finding new early voting sites that include former department stores, shopping malls and shuttered corporate buildings. All ideas are welcome,” said McDonald.

As part of the selection process, the Board also encourages election administration stakeholders and community leaders to share their thoughts on proposed early voting centers.

By: Mike West, Community Outreach Manager

Cuyahoga County Board of Elections receives Ohio Secretary of State-elect, Frank LaRose

On the evening of December 6 it was snowing intensely at the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections, located in Cleveland, Ohio. Regardless of the inclement weather, Secretary of State-elect, Frank LaRose, attended his appointment with officials of the Board of Elections.

They were waiting for him anxiously to be able to share their ideas to make upcoming electoral processes accessible and much more successful than it in the November elections of this year. This was the first of many visits Senator LaRose will be a making around the State’s 88 jurisdictions as he prepares to take office. As Secretary of State, his powers will include control over many aspects of election administration.

Election Officials from the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections meet with Ohio Secretary of State-elect, Frank LaRose

The November 6, 2018 General Election culminated with a historic 52.9% voter turnout. The veteran Senator offered his congratulations to the election officials for the fluidity with which the electoral processes ran, from the absentee voting to Election Day. He spoke extensively with each of the department managers about initiatives that would substantially improve access to vote prior to Election Day.

Some of the proposals positively affect Spanish-speaking voters. It was suggested that there should be more clarity in the forms that are used to register voters. He was asked to create state issued bilingual voter educational materials. Right now only the Cuyahoga County and the Lorain County Boards of Elections provides all voting materials in Spanish and English. The incoming Secretary of State agreed with the officials on the viability of these measures. If implemented, there is hope that a deeper understanding of the voting process will encourage the Latino community to participate in the democratic process.

Remember that at the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections, we speak Spanish. We will keep you up to date with all the most important electoral information, such as deadlines, voting locations, sample ballots, and more. Follow us:

Election Officials from the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections meet with Ohio Secretary of State-elect, Frank LaRose. From left: Sean Webster, Frank LaRose, Tony Perlatti

By: Elia Burgos, Latino Community Outreach Coordinator, Cuyahoga County Board of Elections