Be sure to vote this April, May

Voting turnout isn't great in spring primary elections compared to November general elections. Let's look at recent voter turnout stats — meaning the percentage of registered voters who cast ballots — for Erie County's primary elections. (Note: Percentages are rounded): • May 2025: 9% (there were very few contested races and only a few issues on this ballot, but still a pretty dismal number.) • May 2024: 22% (many more contested state and federal races in this one.) • May 2023: 24% (few contested races but a number of notable school district bond issue requests.) • May 2022: 21% (the last time Ohio's gubernatorial candidates were chosen by voters.) • May 2021: 21% (a Vermilion mayoral race was the only contested race in this election.) We're hoping that last year's poor primary turnout was an outlier and not the new trend. Regardless of how many races or issues you're able to vote on, we highly encourage each registered voter to vote in every election, be it spring primary or fall general, each year. There are some notable races taking place in the primary happening May 5: • Republicans will nominate the candidate to oppose U.S. Rep Marcy Kaptur, D-Toledo. • Both Republicans and Democrats will chose candidates to compete in this fall's Ohio governor race. • Democrats will select an opponent for Republican U.S. Senator Jon Husted — former U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown is running against Ron Kincaid. • There are a number candidates running for state office, including Ohio auditor and Ohio attorney general. • There are common pleas court judge races taking place in Erie and Sandusky counties, Republican and Libertarian Huron County commissioner races, among others. Are you registered? If so, you should vote at your polling place on May 5 or vote early; early in-person and absentee voting starts on April 7. Need to check to see if you're registered, or register for the first time? Get help from your county's board of elections office: • Erie County: 2900 Columbus Ave., Room 101, Sandusky. Open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Phone: 419-627-7601. Email: erie@OhioSoS.gov. Website: boe.ohio.gov/erie. • Huron County: 180 Milan Ave., #4, Norwalk. Open 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Phone: 419-668-8238. Email: huron@OhioSoS.gov. Website: huron.boe.ohio.gov. • Ottawa County: 8444 W. Ohio 163, #101, Oak Harbor. Open 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Phone: 419-898-3071. Email: ottawa@ohiosos.gov. Website: boe.ottawa.oh.gov. • Sandusky County: 2020 Countryside Drive, Fremont. Open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Phone: 419-334-6180. Email: sandusky@OhioSoS.gov. Website: sanduskycountyoh.gov/index.php?page=board-of-elections Editorial board