Wednesday, June 29, 2011
YOUNGSTOWN
About 35 people have already made their decision about a 3.85-mill, five-year additional police levy in Boardman.
Early voting for the Aug. 2 special election began Tuesday and the additional police levy is the only measure on the ballot in Mahoning County. The levy is expected to generate $3,815,320 annually for the police department and cost the owner of a home valued at $100,000 about $117 annually.
Early voting will continue through July 30, said Joyce Kale-Pesta, deputy director for the Mahoning County Board of Elections.
Township residents who want to vote early in the Aug. 2 election should bring valid identification to the board of elections, 2801 Market St., from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The office also will be open from 8 a.m. to noon July 30, the Saturday before the election, she said.
Pesta said early voting is increasing in popularity since the board of elections began offering it three years ago. About 3,000 people voted early in the last presidential election, she added.
“It’s become more common. People come to avoid the Election-Day lines. ... Before you had to have a reason to vote absentee, like be out of the county, over age 65, but now there is absolutely no reason that you have to have [to vote early],” she said.
George Farris was one of those who cast ballots Tuesday. Farris is a volunteer for the Boardman Coalition Against Crime, a nonprofit organization that supports the police levy. He also has a business in Boardman, Farris Marketing.
“It’s so much easier than voting on election day,” he said. Farris said the entire process took him about 10 minutes.
“The message we wanted to get across is that [residents] don’t have to wait until Aug. 2 ... because it’s just a strange day,” he said.