Do your homework before going to the polls Tuesday

Because of the five statewide issues, Tuesday's ballot will be exceptionally long. In fact, Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell has told boards of elections to waive the five-minute time limit voters get in the booth. But if you're one of those who feels the need to read every word on the ballot, additional time will not help. Thus, we urge you to do your reading before you go to the polls tomorrow.
In the last month, The Vindicator published full-page legal advertisements paid for by the state that detail each of the statewide issues, including arguments for and against. In addition, The Vindicator's Voting Guide, which was circulated Tuesday, contains a news story that summarizes the five issues, as well as stories and biographical information on all the candidates in races in Mahoning, Trumbull, Columbiana, Mercer and Lawrence counties, and explanations and listings of all the local issues.
The League of Women Voters of the Mahoning Valley also has a voter guide. The Ohio Secretary of State's website is a reliable source of election day information.
Anxiety
Adding to the anxiety many voters will feel when faced with such a long ballot is the fact that in some counties the touch-screen electronic voting system will be in use for the first time. As voters in Mahoning County will attest, the first time is the most difficult. But the system is a breeze to use once people become comfortable with it.
The Vindicator urges passage of the countywide issues in Mahoning and Trumbull counties, and the various school issues on the ballot. We also support State Issues 1, 2 and 4 as good for Ohio.
As for the local races, we urge voters in the city of Youngstown to look beyond party politics and ask themselves this question: Which of the six candidates is most qualified to lead the city in its economic, social and cultural revival? Our answer: Jay Williams, a registered Democrat who is running as an independent. Williams is the former director of the Youngstown Community Development Agency and was one of the architects of "Youngstown 2010," the city's long-range plan.
The Vindicator spent several weeks reviewing some of the races, studying the positions of the candidates and conducting interviews with the contenders. Based on that research, the newspaper made the following endorsements.
MAHONING COUNTY
Youngstown
Mayor -- Jay Williams
Council president -- Charles P. Sammarone Sr.
Board of education -- Lock Beachum Sr., Jacqueline Taylor, Patti Billet
Boardman
Trustee -- Kathy Miller, Robyn Gallitto
Board of education -- Mark Fulks, Kimberly Poma, Carmen Amadio
Austintown
Trustee -- David Ditzler, Warren Pritchard
Board of education -- Joyce Pogany, Harold Porter, Peter Fraser
Canfield
Trustee -- William Reese, Randy Brashen
TRUMBULL COUNTY
Warren
Board of education -- Bob Faulkner Sr., Shari Harrell
Liberty
Trustee -- Jack Simon, Gary Litch
Niles
Board of education -- John Davis, Susan Longacre