Every four years, the national election floods the headlines. It seems as if the world knows everything about the issues on the ballot.
However, there are other elections every year in your own backyard that do not gain nearly as much attention. These local elections see low turnout each year, especially from young voters.
Local governments handle the services you rely on every day, such as schools, parks, public safety and public transportation. This makes it imperative that you pay attention to your local government and local issues on the ballot, and show up on Election Day to make your voice heard.
Not only are you making your voice heard, you are also having a say in where your tax money goes. By voting in local elections, you help pave the way for the changes that you want to see in your community.
Due to the low voter turnout often seen in local elections, your vote is even more powerful locally than it is nationally. That is not to say that national elections are unimportant, it just means that local races often are decided by a handful of votes. In some cases, local elections have come down to single digits.
For us in Stark County, there are two issues on the ballot for the upcoming election on Nov. 4: Stark County Issue 1 and Plain Township Issue 17. Both of these issues are levies, which means they propose new or continued ways for local tax dollars to be used within the community.
Stark County Issue 1 is proposed by the Stark County Board of Developmental Disabilities. It would add a levy to increase their revenue by $21 million per year. The Board says they need the additional funds to address a looming budget deficit without abruptly cutting some of their programming.
The Board’s number of clients has risen by nearly 2,000 individuals in the past 15 years, and provider costs have increased by 38%. The funding the Board receives from tax money goes toward lifelong support for those who utilize its services.
If the levy is passed, the county would impose new taxes of $56 per year for each $100,000 of a property owner’s home value. If it is not passed, the agency will likely need to discontinue its nonmandated programming by 2028, which includes its preschool and school-age programs.
One of these school-age services includes the Rebecca Stallman Southgate School, a public educational facility for students with disabilities and special needs to gain a quality education that meets their individual needs. The Rebecca Stallman Southgate School also has a satellite classroom in the Plain Local School District at Avondale Elementary.
Plain Local also partners with the Stark County Board of Developmental Disabilities in a number of ways. If the levy fails, Plain Local will still have to educate these students without the help of Stark County Board of Developmental Disabilities.
Plain Township Issue 17, on the other hand, does not propose a new levy but a five-year renewal of an existing tax that funds payments to the Stark County Sheriff’s Office for additional police services. Renewing the levy would continue to cost homeowners about $94 per year for every $100,000 of their home’s value.
When you go to your polling place to vote on Nov. 4, you will need to bring a valid photo identification. The state considers the following acceptable IDs: an unexpired Ohio driver’s license, U.S. passport or passport card, U.S. military ID card, Ohio National Guard ID card, or a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs ID card. If you do not have a state ID, you can obtain a free one from the Bureau of Motor Vehicles if you are 17 or older.
Under Federal Law, those who struggle with English proficiency are entitled to assistance in voting from a person of their choice, as long as that person is not the voter’s employer, an agent of their employer, or an agent of the voter’s union.
On Nov. 4, polling locations will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. However, if you are still in line at your polling location when the clock hits 7:30 p.m., you have the right by law to still be allowed to vote.
How do you know if you are even registered to vote? The easiest way to find out is by going to https://voterlookup.ohiosos.gov/voterlookup.aspx. If you enter your first name, last name, and the county you live in, the website will let you know if you are registered. If you are, it will also tell you your polling location (the place where you go to submit your ballot), your Congressional District, Senate District and State Representative District.
If you are not registered to vote, do not worry. You can register online or at your local board of elections. Unfortunately, you will not be able to vote in the upcoming local election on Nov. 4, but you will be able to vote in all elections that occur 30 days after your registration is complete.
Although local elections may not draw the same headlines as presidential races, their impact is often felt closer to home. Every vote helps shape daily life in Stark County, so on Nov. 4, make sure your voice is heard.
