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Election directors in Mahoning and Trumbull counties say their staffs are ready for the special Aug. 8 election and are working to conduct it as if it's a typical primary or general.
How it will all be paid for, however, is still being figured out at the state level.
"We're going through the same preparation," said Tom McCabe, director of the Mahoning County Board of Elections. "We are preparing like it's any other election. It's been pretty smooth so far."
On the Aug. 8 ballot is a state constitutional amendment.
If approved, future constitutional amendment proposals would need 60 percent support to pass rather than a simple majority.
Also, if passed, effective Jan. 1, 2024, proposed constitutional amendments would need at least 5 percent of those who voted in the last gubernatorial election from all of the state's 88 counties to qualify for the ballot.
Stephanie Penrose, director of the Trumbull County Board of Elections, said: "We'll be able to hold three elections in one year. We did it last year with greater turnout. Then we roll into a probable March (2024 presidential) primary. With our quality staff, we can get anything done."
A special August election took place last year because the Ohio Supreme Court ruled that state legislative maps approved by the Ohio Redistricting Commission were unconstitutional. That forced the state House and Senate primary to be postponed from May to August.
The maps still are unconstitutional, but a federal panel ordered the primary be held last August regardless.
The state Legislature voted in December to eliminate special August elections with few exceptions. A statewide constitutional amendment was not among those exceptions, but the Ohio Supreme Court ruled June 16 in a 4-3 decision that the Aug. 8 election can proceed.
Penrose predicted turnout for the August election around 10 to 12 percent in Trumbull County.
"I don't think it will be big because a lot of people won't know there is a special election," she said. "I don't think it will be a heavy turnout."
McCabe expects turnout in Mahoning to be about 25 to 30 percent.
"I've seen yard signs on both sides already," he said. "Both sides will be pushing turnout. We'll know better once we get closer to the start of early voting and see how many absentee requests we get. It will be better than the primary, but we don't expect many early voters."
Penrose said last month about the special election: "I'm angry at the August election that we would have for two years in a row. This is the same Legislature that voted to get rid of August elections a few months ago. That makes you hot under the collar. It's not the issue itself. It's the principle of the thing -- having an August election right after they agreed to eliminate them."
She now says: "It is what it is. I stick by my previous statement, but I've come to accept it. We're doing our job."
WHO PAYS FOR IT?
The state Legislature is working out how it will fund the special election, which is estimated to cost $15 million to $20 million. But McCabe and Penrose said the counties will have to front the money and be reimbursed by the state.
McCabe said it will cost Mahoning County about $500,000 for the special election.
Penrose estimated the cost for Trumbull County at $150,000 to $200,000 though she said she wasn't sure about the price.
"We've been assured by the state that we'll be reimbursed," McCabe said.
Mahoning doesn't have to move any of its 70 polling locations for the Aug. 8 election, McCabe said. It had to move about five of them last August, he said.
Only one of Trumbull's 54 polling locations has to be moved for August, Penrose said.
That is St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church in Hubbard. Voters in Hubbard city precincts 2B, 2C, 4A and 4B and Hubbard Township B will instead vote at the Hubbard Middle School gymnasium, 250 Hall Ave.
Postcards soon will be sent to those voters, Penrose said.
Those voters then will move back to St. Patrick for the general election.
EARLY VOTE, REGISTRATION
For those who aren't registered to vote, the deadline is 9 p.m. July 10.
To register in person at a county board of elections, you need either your driver's license number or state ID and the last four digit of your Social Security number.
People also can register online at voteohio.gov, the Ohio secretary of state's website, by 9 p.m. July 10.
Early in-person voting starts July 11.
The hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 11 to 14. It is the same hours from July 17 to 21 as well as July 24 to 28.
It is 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. July 31, 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Aug. 1, and 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Aug. 2 to 4.
Early voting on Aug. 5, the Saturday before the primary, is 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
It is 1 to 5 p.m. Aug. 6, the Sunday before the primary.
The Trumbull office is at 2947 Youngstown Road SE, Warren.
The Mahoning office is at Oakhill Renaissance Place, 345 Oak Hill Ave., Youngstown.
Polling locations are open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Aug. 8.