Vote May 8 – Strive to be the best-prepared voter

PLAN and PREPARE to be the best voter you can be.

Did you know that your vote means more in the primary?  It is MUCH more powerful in the primaries.  This is for a couple of reasons.  One is because only a small percentage of registered voters show up for the primary elections compared to the general elections.  Another reason is due to the gerrymandering of districts.  The state and congressional districts are typically drawn to favor one political party over another therefore whoever is the candidate on the favored political party slate wins the majority of the time in the general election.

To make your voting experience the best it can be, we have put together some information for you.  We believe that it is a challenge to be an informed voter.  It is practically a full-time job to meet and talk to all the candidates and to learn the issues in depth.  Hear we go with the basics to start with.

What day do I vote?  Tuesday, May 8, 2018  (or Early Voting Calendar)

What time do I vote?  Between 6:30 am and 7:30 pm

Where do I vote?  CLICK HERE to find your personal Polling Location.

How do I vote?

There are a few steps required to answer this question.

  • Pick your political party – This primary election your political party choices are Democrat, Green, Republican or No party (aka independent or unaffiliated, ‘issues only’).  The poll workers will ask you which party’s ballot you would like when you check in at your polling location.
  • View your Sample Ballot before you go to your polling location.  You can CLICK HERE to obtain personal sample ballot.  You can actually view the ballots for each of the 4 party choices.
  • Issues and candidates – More detailed information follows starting with the issues.
  • TEA held Candidates and Issues Forums (OPEN to the PUBLIC) in March and April of 2018 in Amherst, Ohio (Lorain County).

BALLOT ISSUES

What are the issues on my ballot in Lorain County?

  • Issue #1 (Statewide) – Changes method of drawing congressional districts (Constitutional Amendment)

Click on the picture to WATCH video on Issue # 1.  Ballot text is here.  Ballotpedia explanation is here.

Mary Kirtz, League of Women Voters, speaks about Issue #1 at April 14 TEA Forum.

  • What do property tax Issues #4 and #5 COST the homeowner?  Jeff Baxter explains in this video.

Jeff Baxter explains cost of county tax issues at March 10 TEA Forum.

  • Issue #4 (Lorain County) – Shall the tax levy for the Board of Mental Health be renewed for 5 years?

Click on the picture to WATCH video on Issue # 4.  Ballot text is here.

Dr. Kathleen Kern, Board of Mental Health, speaks on Issue #4 at March 10 TEA Forum

  • Issue #5 (Lorain County) – Shall the tax levy for Developmental Disabilities be renewed for 5 years?

Click on the picture to WATCH video on Issue # 5.  Ballot text is here.

Amber Fisher, Board of Developmental Disabilities, speaks about Issue #5 at March 10 TEA Forum.

CANDIDATES – Statewide and Congress

Meet several of the candidates you see on sample ballots available to you right here on videos recorded at the 2018 Spring TEA Forums.

  • WATCH Mary Taylor, candidate for Ohio Governor, speak.  Click on photo below to WATCH video PART I.
Mary Taylor, Governor Candidate, speaks at April 14 TEA Forum (PART I)
  • WATCH Mary Taylor, candidate for Ohio Governor, speak.  Click on photo below to WATCH video PART 2.
Mary Taylor, Governor Candidate, speaks at April 14 Forum (PART 2).
  • WATCH Sandra O’Brien, candidate for Ohio Treasurer.  Click on photo.
Sandra O’Brien, Ohio Treasurer Candidate, speaks at April 14 TEA Forum.
  • WATCH Keith Colton, candidate for Congress Ohio 9th District.  Click on photo.  Keith wins the prize for biggest prop brought to the stage.
Keith Colton, Congress Ohio 9th District Candidate, speaks at April 14 TEA Forum.
  • WATCH Steve Kraus, candidate for Congress Ohio 9th District.  Click on photo.
Steve Kraus, Congress Ohio 9th Dist. Candidate, speaks at April 14 TEA Forum.

CANDIDATES – County & District

  • WATCH John Ciarrone, candidate for Lorain County Commissioner.  Click on photo.
John Ciarrone, county commissioner candidate, speaks at March 10 TEA Forum.
  • WATCH Nathan Manning, candidate for Ohio Senate District 13.  Click on photo.
Nathan Manning, Ohio Senate candidate, speaks at April 14 TEA Forum.
  • WATCH Ryan Sawyer, candidate for Ohio Senate District 13.  Click on photo.
Ryan Sawyer, candidate for Ohio Senate, speaks at April 14 TEA Forum.
  • WATCH Dick Stein, candidate for Ohio House District 57.  Click on photo.
Dick Stein, candidate for Ohio House 57, speaks at March 10 TEA Forum.
  • WATCH Rob Weber, candidate for Ohio House District 56.  Click on photo.
Rob Weber, candidate for Ohio House 56, speaks at March 10 TEA Forum.
  • WATCH Kirsten Penton Hill, candidate for State Central Committee District 13.  Click on photo.
Kirsten Penton Hill, candidate for State Central Committee, speaks at March 10 TEA Forum.
  • WATCH Patty Stein, candidate for State Central Committee District 13. Click on photo.
Patty Stein, candidate for State Central Committee, speaks at March 10 TEA Forum.

Trying to be a fully-informed voter is a big job.  It can be exhausting.  We hope that we have helped you out just a little bit.  That is our aim here at Totally Engaged Americans®.  Our organization is run by all volunteers.  There is no paid staff preparing the TEA Forums, contacting candidates and issue speakers, videorecording the forum speakers or updating the TEA website with all this information.

Many thanks to the emcee at the 2018 Spring candidate forums, Mr. Michael Moats.  He did a superb job introducing the issues and the candidates and directing traffic to and from the podium.  Hats off to Mike!

Okay, now to wrap it all up.

Voter’s CHECKLIST

  1. MARK your calendar to GO VOTE on May 8, 2018 between 6:30 am and 7:30 pm.
  2. In advance of May 8, find your polling location here.
  3. In advance of May 8, pick your sample ballot from the 4 party choices here.
  4. In advance of May 8, STUDY the sample ballot you chose in #3 and do RESEARCH on the candidates and issues.  WATCH the videos above.
  5. In advance of May 8, DECIDE how you are going to vote on the issues and the candidates.
  6. On May 8, DRIVE to your polling location, check-in with your i.d., SELECT your political party (or no party) ballot and VOTE on all the issues and races on the ballot.

Thank you for being the best voter you can be.  Our democratic republic lives on because of individuals like you, the informed voter.