Ensure you are eligible to vote

Do you think Donald Trump is the best candidate to lead our nation to new levels of security and prosperity?

Or maybe Bernie Sanders?

Perhaps you’re leaning toward Hillary Clinton or Ted Cruz or Marco Rubio or Carly Fiorina?

Or even Ohio’s own Gov. John Kasich?

And don’t forget Roque “Rocky” De La Fuente.

There’s no shortage of presidential hopefuls who want to take up residence in the White House.

And there’s been no shortage of news coverage and debates and town hall meetings and robo-calls and mailers featuring the candidates and their positions on issues and the sometimes poignant, sometimes crazy stuff they have said.

Things will probably get crazier in coming weeks, as attention shifts from Iowa and New Hampshire to swing states like Ohio.

The field likely will be reduced further, and the selection process should be a little easier come March 15, the date of Ohio’s later-than-usual primary.

CHECK REGISTRATION

If you’re planning to make your choice on Election Day or during the month-long early voting period that precedes it, then you have an obligation to check your voter registration now.

The deadline to confirm your eligibility and make changes is about a week away.

There’s really no excuse for not doing so.

You can check your status online at MyOhioVote.com, the secretary of state’s website where you can verify your registration and update your address.

You can also check your polling place, review a sample ballot and (if you decide to vote early) track your absentee ballot.

You can’t register to vote online (yet), but you can download a voter registration form to submit to your county elections board.

Concerned about online security? You can call your local elections board or go visit that office in person to register or confirm your details.

The registration deadline is Feb. 16. That’s whether you complete the process online, in person or mail your application. The latter has to be postmarked by Feb. 16 – given recent postmark issues, you probably should drop your paperwork in the mail earlier, just to be safe.

VOTE EARLY STARTING FEB. 17

Absentee ballots already are available for military and overseas voters. Early voting for others in Ohio begins Feb. 17.

There are primary races for Republican and Democrat candidates for president, U.S. Senate, the Ohio Legislature and Ohio Supreme Court to be decided.

There will be ample opportunity between now and Election Day to hear from the candidates and shift your allegiance, if necessary.

There will be ample opportunity between now and Election Day to cast your ballots.

There’s ample opportunity now to confirm your voter eligibility and make sure your voter registration is up to date.

This is a big election year. There will be a lot of focus on Ohio. There should be bigger-than-normal crowds at the polls.

If you want to participate in the process, then take a few minutes and double-check your status now.

Don’t cry disenfranchisement a few weeks from now, when local elections officials tell you your registration is not in order.

Marc Kovac is The Vindicator’s Statehouse correspondent. Email him at mkovac@dixcom.com or on Twitter at OhioCapitalBlog.