Election day is upon us


March 15, 2016 at 12:05a.m.

By Marc Kovac

news@vindy.com

COLUMBUS

Ohio’s pivotal primary election is today, capping months of debate and drama.

Leading candidates made stops around the state in the final days of the Ohio’s primary campaign. Ballots will be cast through tonight.

Here are six final things you should know about the primary in a state Republican presidential hopefuls view as a must-win:

  1. Polls will be open today from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

  2. Where To Go: You can check your polling place online at www.my-ohiovote.com. Type in your full name, your house number and your birth year and you’ll see the name of your precinct, plus the name and address of your voting site.

When you visit the polls, make sure you have state-required personal identification. The list includes a valid driver’s license, military ID or other government-issued identification, copy of a current utility bill or paycheck or other government document showing your name and address.

  1. Still Time for Absentee Ballots: Mail-in absentee ballots can still be dropped off in person at boards of elections by 7:30 p.m. today. If you request a mail-in ballot but don’t use it and show up at your polling place on Election Day, you’ll likely end up voting provisionally.

  2. Confusion: Voters might be a bit confused when they see this year’s ballot, particularly when it comes to Republican presidential contenders.

There are two sections – one for “delegates-at-large and alternates-at-large to the national convention” and another for “district delegates and district alternates for the national convention.”

Both list a full slate of Republican candidates, though only four remain in the race (Donald Trump, Gov. John Kasich and U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio).

The setup is a holdover from Ohio’s earlier primary setup, when delegates were doled out by congressional district. With the timing change for the election, the Republican race is now a winner-takes-all proposition.

Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted explained: “ ... The Republican primary ballot appears the way that it has always appeared. This is set by state law. State law provides the rules for how a candidate can get their slate of delegates on the ballot and how the ballot is laid out. The only thing that has changed is how the Republican Party decided to award its delegates in 2016.

“Traditionally, Ohio Republicans have awarded at-large delegates and awarded district delegates. So there were two contests on the ballot. In late 2015, the Republican Party decided to change how it awards delegates in Ohio to a winner takes all process. The Republican Party chairman has clarified that the rules for awarding delegates will be based on the winner of the at-large delegate contest. Both contests will be counted. But the awarding of delegates is based solely on the first question. Essentially we are required by law to have both contests, but the awarding of delegates under Republican Party rules is based in the first question.”

  1. The Candidates: In addition to the four remaining GOP presidential candidates, there are three Democrats seeking Ohioans’ votes for the party nomination: Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders and Roque “Rocky” De La Fuente.

In the U.S. Senate race, Republican incumbent Rob Portman faces challenger Don Elijah Eckhart. There are three Democrats vying for that seat: former Gov. Ted Strickland, Cincinnati City Councilman P.G. Sittenfeld and Cincinnati resident Kelli Prather.

There’s also one contested primary among Ohio Supreme Court races: Appeals Court Judge Pat Fischer (1st District) faces Appeals Court Judge Colleen O’Toole (11th District).

Which candidates you choose will depend on which party’s ballot you request.

  1. Must-win for Kasich: Kasich’s hopes for the White House rest on his performance in Ohio. If he doesn’t win his home state, his run is likely over.