Cuyahoga Voter Turnout Expected To Approach Level Of 2005

Monday, November 2, 2009
Topics: Politics
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Voter turnout in NUMBERS is expected to be lower this year than last November, since there's no big Presidential extravaganza. But Cuyahoga County officials are expecting the PERCENTAGE of voters casting mail-in ballots to be just as high. Ideastream's Bill Rice reports.

{Out of about 202 thousand mail-in ballots requested for this election, about 160 thousand have been returned - that’s about 79 percent.  Last November’s rate of return was higher, about 90 percent.  But Board of Elections Director Jane Platten expects considerably more ballots to come in tomorrow. 

As for total turnout, off-year elections produce varied results depending on the nature of the races.  Platten expects between 30 and 40 percent of registered voters to cast ballots for this election - roughly in line with the 36 percent turnout in 2005, whereas turnout in 2007 was only 19 percent . 

Platten:  “In 2005 there was a very heated mayoral race in the city of Cleveland.  And it was a quieter election in 2007.  Even though we don’t have a very heated Cleveland mayoral race, we do have some very hot issue on this ballot.  Therefore I think the voter turnout is going to spike up a bit.”

Those hot issues include competing proposals to reform county government, and the proposal to allow casino gambling in four Ohio cities. 

Platten says there have been precinct changes that may have resulted in changes in some voting locations.  All registered voters have been notified of any changes in their locations, but are encouraged to visit the Board of Elections web site or call its office if they’re unsure.