Local libraries to host e-poll book demonstrations

Posted on March 30, 2017October 13, 2017 by Cuyahoga County Board of Elections

The Cuyahoga County Board of Elections has partnered with Cuyahoga County Public Libraries and other local libraries to give voters a sneak peek at e-poll books before their debut during the May 2 Primary Election.

On Election Day, voters will now check into their polling location by signing an electronic touch pad rather than a paper poll book. The check-in process will be much quicker since a voter’s information can be found instantly by scanning their driver’s license or using an easy search tool. Additionally, voters can visit any line rather than waiting to be checked into their specific precinct.

Any voter who wishes to see the new technology before Election Day is invited to visit their local library during the following dates and times when staff from the Board of Elections will have the e-poll books on display.

Library	Address	Event Date	Event Time
Southeast	70 Columbus Road Bedford, Ohio 44146	April 27	3:00 – 5:30 p.m.
Brecksville	9089 Brecksville Road Brecksville, Ohio 44141	April 24	3:00 – 5:30 p.m.
Brooklyn	4480 Ridge Road Brooklyn, Ohio 44144	April 27	1:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Chagrin Falls	100 East Orange Street Chagrin Falls, Ohio 44022	April 21	1:00 – 3:30 p.m.
Fairview Park	21255 Lorain Road Fairview Park, Ohio 44126	April 20	2:00 – 4:30 p.m.
Independence	6361 Selig Drive Independence, Ohio 44131	April 25	3:00 – 5:30 p.m.
Maple Heights	5225 Library Lane Maple Heights, Ohio 44137	April 26	3:00 – 5:30 p.m.
North Royalton	5071 Wallings Road North Royalton, Ohio 44133	April 26	3:00 – 5:30 p.m.
Parma	6996 Powers Boulevard Parma, Ohio 44129	April 19	3:00 – 5:30 p.m.
Parma Heights	6206 Pearl Road Parma Heights, Ohio 44130	April 17	3:00 – 5:30 p.m.
Parma Snow	2121 Snow Road Parma, Ohio 44134	April 18	1:00 – 3:30 p.m.
Rocky River Library	1600 Hampton Road Rocky River, Ohio 44116	April 19	11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Shaker Heights Library	16500 Van Aken Blvd Shaker Heights, OH 44120	April 25	4:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Westlake Library	27333 Center Ridge Road Westlake, OH 44145	April 19	3:00 – 5:30 p.m

Upcoming: May 2, 2017 Primary Election

Posted on March 21, 2017March 23, 2017 by Cuyahoga County Board of Elections

A Primary Election will be held on Tuesday, May 2, 2017 in select municipalities throughout Cuyahoga County.

may-primary-map-2 — Municipalities in the Election on May 2

These municipalities include Bedford, Bentleyville, Brecksville, Broadview Heights, Brooklyn, Chagrin Falls, Cleveland (4A, 4R, 4S, 6T.02), Fairview Park, Maple Heights, Moreland Hills, North Royalton, Parma, Parma Heights, Rocky River, Seven Hills, Shaker Heights, Walton Hills, and Westlake (Ward 1 only).

The outcome of this election will affect several municipal issues, school district issues and three candidates (Westlake). Take a closer look at the full issues list and/or election profile for more information.

Voter Registration Deadline: April 3
Anyone living in these municipalities who plan to vote must be registered. To register or update your voter registration, visit myohiovote.com.

Early Voting: April 4 – May 1
Voters may vote early from April 4 through May 1 either in person at the Board of Elections or by mail. If voting by mail, ballot requests must be received by noon on April 29 at the Board of Elections. Click to request a vote-by-mail ballot.

The Board of Elections is located at 2925 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44115. Click to view in-house voting hours at the Board of Elections.

Election Day Voting: May 2
Polls will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Election Day. Click here to find your polling location.

Questions? Call the Board of Elections at 216-443-VOTE.

Director Pat McDonald testifies in support of Senate Bill 44

Posted on March 1, 2017October 13, 2017 by Cuyahoga County Board of Elections

The Cuyahoga County Board of Elections is encouraging state lawmakers to allow candidates to file campaign finance information electronically. Under current law people submitting campaign finance reports with county boards of elections must submit their records on paper.

Cuyahoga County Board of Elections Director Pat McDonald is the administrator of the largest voting jurisdiction in Ohio and supports changing the law outlined in Senate Bill 44. McDonald offered testimony today during a hearing of the Ohio Senate Government Oversight and Reform committee on this matter.

Director Pat McDonald testifies in support of Senate Bill 44 at the Senate Government Oversight & Reform Committee meeting in Columbus

“The time has come to take advantage of modern technology and allow all candidates and elected officials to file their campaign finance reports electronically,” said McDonald. “If these reports were submitted with electronic website forms it would save filers the trouble of dropping off paperwork and cut down on the time it takes for our staff to handle paper records. This would also allow easy access to campaign finance records that are not always available on the web.”

Changing the law will create greater transparency by making it easier to identify how campaigns raise and spend money in all parts of the state. The filing system allows for anyone to quickly and easily search individual donors, donations, expenditures, or loans, simply by entering a last name or a portion of a campaign committee’s name.

The public already has the ability to review reports from state candidates through the Secretary of State’s website. However, only Ohio’s largest voting jurisdictions, including Cuyahoga County offer campaign records online. “So it just makes sense to have all records available using this method. I am calling on lawmakers to remove the paper-only requirement that still regulates municipal, county and local candidates and campaign committees that file with county boards of elections,” said McDonald.

State Senator Frank LaRose (R-Hudson) re-introduced this legislation on February 10, 2017 which passed the Senate unanimously during the 131st General Assembly, but did not pass the House of Representatives. The bill was supported by the Ohio Association of Election Officials.

Author: Mike West, Media and Voter Education Specialist, Cuyahoga County Board of Elections