The Northeast Ohio City Council Association (NOCCA) presents a forum on Reforming County Government: How and Why
September 17, 2009
Maxine Goodman College of Urban Affairs,
Atrium,
1717 Euclid Ave.
Cleveland, OH 44115
Sponsored in part by the Greater Cleveland Voter Coalition
GCVC VOTER REGISTRATION REPORTS
With funding from the George Gund Foundation, former Voter Coalition Research Director Norman Robbins and collaborators, with help from the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections (CCBOE), generated two studies in 2008.
The first study analyzed the outcome of about 5400 registrations submitted to the CCBOE by the Voter Coalition. 1.5 % of such registrations could not be found on the CCBOE look-up site (1% data entry or website problems and 0.5% voter errors, such as omission of birth date). In addition, 0.6 % of submitted registrations had address updates which were not entered. These error rates were much lower than in a similar GCVC study done in 2004. A number of suggested procedures have now been discussed with the CCBOE to decrease both types of errors still further.
The second study, in cooperation with CSU Researcher Mark Salling, looked at the demographics of the over 80,000 "Notices of Elections" that were returned to the CCBOE as "undeliverable" in fall 2008. Most of these voters probably moved, would vote with a provisional ballot, and might vote in an incorrect precinct, thereby losing their votes. Also, in the past, these voters have been challenged on the basis of the returned mailings. The study found that compared to those with deliverable mailings, the "undeliverables" were disproportionately (70% greater) from low-income, often but not always predominantly African-American neighborhoods. New approaches to reducing this problem are being discussed with the CCBOE and the Secretary of State's office.
If not you, then who?
Voter Checklist
- Make sure you are registered at your current address, check your registration status and confirm your polling location by going to the BOE website or call the BOE at (216) 443-3200
- Download an Absentee Ballot Application from the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections web site, www.boe.cuyahogacounty.us and submit your application by Saturday, noon November 1st.
- All Absentee Ballots must be returned to the BOE by 7:30 Pm on November 4th Election Day unless overseas military.
- You may also vote by Absentee Ballot at the Board of Elections on 29th & Euclid Avenue until Monday, November 3rd.
- 17 year olds can register and vote as long as they will turn 18 by the November 4th Election
- College students have the option of voting from their home address via Absentee Ballot or their campus address
- Educate yourself to all the candidates and issues on the ballot
- Polls are open from 6:30 AM to 7:30 PM, take ID to the Polls
- Do not leave the polls without voting! If all else fails vote by Provisional Ballot. If you vote a Provisional Ballot, a toll free number will be given to you to find out whether your ballot was counted or not
- Voting will take place by Optical Scan Paper Ballots, you must completely shade in the oval. Be careful not to make any stray marks and to not overvote in any race.
- Check your ballot carefully and if you find a mistake you have the right to request up to two more ballots
- If you encounter any problems before or on Election Day or have questions, please call 866-MYVOTE1 or 866-OURVOTE.