(The Center Square) – The general election is officially underway in Ohio as military and overseas ballots have been mailed.
Early, in-person or absentee ballot voting begins Oct. 8. The deadline to register or update voter registration is Oct. 7.
Ballots are being sent to members of the United States uniformed services and merchant marines, their families and U.S. citizens living outside the United States.
“All of us who serve in America’s military are devoted to defending our freedoms and way of life so I know our service members are eager to make their voice heard this election,” Republican Secretary of State Frank LaRose said. “As we formally kick off the 2024 voting season, every Ohioan should have confidence that my office and Ohio’s bipartisan county boards of elections are fully prepared. Ohio continues to strike the right balance between election integrity and voter convenience, and that starts by making sure our patriots overseas have every opportunity to exercise their fundamental right to vote in a secure and convenient manner.”
LaRose’s office has a full-time military and veteran coordinator who works to boost military and veteran participation in elections. The Second Call to Duty initiative offers resources to help organize poll worker recruitment with local veterans’ organizations.
Aside from local, congressional and state legislative races on the November ballot, voters will choose between Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican former President Donald Trump for president.
Also, incumbent Democrat Sen. Sherrod Brown faces Republican challenger Bernie Moreno for the U.S. Senate.
Finally, voters will also decide on Issue I, a statewide constitutional amendment that would change how the state establishes congressional and statehouse districts, removing the process from the Ohio Redistricting Commission – a political group made up of five Republicans and two Democrats – and putting it into the hands of a nonpolitical citizen committee made up of 15 people, consisting of Republicans, Democrats and independents.
