Early voting for Nov. 8 begins today

Two Ohio groups battle over Issue 2, concerning Senate Bill 5.

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By Joanne Huist Smith, Staff Writer Updated 11:49 PM Monday, October 3, 2011

Early voting for the Nov. 8 election begins today, and today is also the start of “golden week,” the name given the five-day period when people can register to vote and cast a ballot at the same time.

The registration period ends Tuesday, Oct. 11.

The Republican-dominated legislature tried to get rid of “golden week” as part of an election reform bill that limited the number of days voters can cast ballots before election day. But the law was put on hold last week because of a petition drive that seeks a statewide referendum on House Bill 194 for November 2012. With the law on hold, the previous 35-day early voting window was left intact.

The big issue in this November’s election is Issue 2, which would repeal Senate Bill 5, the state’s new collective bargaining law. Two groups with similar-sounding names — We Are Ohio and Building a Better Ohio — are facing off on the issue and pumping millions of dollars into advertising campaigns that have already been airing in media markets throughout the state.

We Are Ohio, the group opposing SB 5 and asking voters to say no on Issue 2, plans a series of rallies in Dayton today with the goal of getting at least 500 voters to cast ballots on the first day of early voting.

The Rev. Darryl Fairchild, regional outreach coordinator for We Are Ohio, said allies in the fight against Issue 2 — the faith community, unions, teachers, police and firefighters — will gather at the Dayton Cultural and RTA Transit Center, 40 S. Edwin C. Moses Blvd., throughout the day today, then march across the Third Street bridge to the board of elections to vote.

The law greatly restricts collective bargaining for public employees.

“This is about jobs,” Fairchild said. “I think people in the middle class realize their interests have not been protected at every level.”

Building a Better Ohio, which is leading the campaign in favor of Issue 2, plans to appeal directly to households with television ads and mailers. The group says the law is needed to give local governments more flexibility in controlling their budgets.

“We have an extensive grass-roots campaign that will target millions of households between now and election day,” said Jason Mauk, spokesman for Building a Better Ohio. “This is an election that will be decided largely on turnout, as most elections are.”

Steve Harsman, director of the Montgomery County Board of Elections, said his office is prepared for a large turnout today.

“This is nothing new for us” said Harsman, adding 10,000 people voted at the Montgomery County Board of Elections in the three days prior to the 2008 presidential election.

Thousands of people have already requested absentee ballots, including about 1,700 in Montgomery County, nearly 2,000 in Greene County, 894 in Warren County, and 182 in Miami County.

Because Monday is a holiday, the last day to register is Tuesday. Registered voters can then request an absentee ballot or vote in person through the early voting period at their county board of elections office.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2362 or josmith@DaytonDaily News.com.

To request an absentee ballot or vote in person

Greene County Board of Elections: 551 Ledbetter Road, Xenia; 562-6182;  Office Hours: Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Miami County Board of Elections: 215 W. Main St., Troy; 440- 3900;  Office hours: Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Montgomery County Board of Elections: 451 W. Third St., Dayton; 225-5661; Office hours: Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Warren County Board of Elections: 406 Justice Drive, Suite 323, Lebanon: 513-695-1358; Office hours: Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

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