Elections board sets early voting hours

Elections board sets early voting hours

YOUNGSTOWN

The Mahoning County Board of Elections voted 3-1 today to ratify a secretary of state directive on early-voting hours.

The directive calls for uniformity in all 88 counties in the state for early-voting hours beginning Oct. 2. The start time is 8 a.m. and the end time is anywhere between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m., depending on the date. Also, the directive doesn’t include weekend voting hours, which were in place during the 2008 presidential election.

David Betras, the county board’s vice chairman and the county’s Democratic Party chairman, objected to voting on the directive, saying there was no reason to do so. He voted no.

Betras, who doesn’t agree with the times and wants weekend voting, said the secretary of state has the power to determine voting hours.

Board Chairman Mark Munroe, also the county Republican Party chairman, said the directive calls for all boards of elections to adopt the voting hours. He said the voting times are reasonable.

Boards of elections in Trumbull and Columbiana counties met today. Board members discussed the hours, but didn’t vote to adopt them.

For the complete story, read Tuesday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com