Ohio’s primary election will be held on May 3, 2022 – but it will not include all of the elected offices that are normally on the ballot. This is the portion of our election process that narrows down a candidate for the general election in November for the two major political parties.
Primaries are an important part of our constitutional republic system. Ohio’s primaries are what are referred to as “open primaries” in that a political party affiliation may be declared by requesting a Republican or Democrat ballot. This declared affiliation remains in effect until a different affiliation is selected in a future election cycle. Citizens who prefer not to be affiliated with one party or the other will wait to cast their vote in the general election (November 8, 2022)
This year’s primary ballot is unusual because our state is in the middle of a complex battle to redraw district lines for the Ohio General Assembly. So the current primary ballot lists candidates for statewide offices (Governor/Lt. Governor, Auditor, Treasurer, Secretary of State, Attorney General), judges, U.S. House of Representatives, U.S. Senate, and county/city officials. State Representatives and State Senators will be selected in a separate primary – date yet to be determined – after the district lines are finalized.
If you are a registered voter, you may want to go to your county board of elections website and follow the links to see your own sample ballot. This is a great strategy to see who will be on the ballot before you cast your vote. You can use the information to research the positions of candidates on important issues and to use it as a teaching tool for your children.
Elections have consequences and every vote is important. For example, there are differences in policy positions among the candidates for Secretary of State when it comes to election integrity. There are differences among the candidates for governor when it comes to education policy.
Skip the TV commercials. It doesn’t take long to look up a candidate’s website or conduct an Internet search on his/her name to learn viewpoints and policy positions. For the general election, ivoters.com is an excellent nonpartisan resource and will have complete information toward the end of summer. An informed electorate is the strength of our free society.
Link to Ohio’s election calendar.
https://cms7files1.revize.com/starkcountyoh/Document_center/Offices/Board%20of%20Elections/Candidates%20Issues%20&%20Campaign%20Finance%20Information/2022calendar.pdf
Link to a sample ballot in Stark County.
https://cms7files1.revize.com/starkcountyoh/Document_center/Offices/Board%20of%20Elections/Candidates%20Issues%20&%20Campaign%20Finance%20Information/2022calendar.pdf