It’s that time of the year again as political ad campaigns hit local TV and the internet heralding
another election season in Ohio. This year, however, promises to be more hotly contested as the
eyes of the nation turn to the Buckeye State and its easy to see why. National, state, and local
offices promise to crowd ballots across Montgomery County and others as local voters prepare to
vote this November. While the sheer number of contestants and details to keep track of can be
bewildering especially for first time voters, there are a number of organizations out there
dedicated to making the entire process easy for the rest of us.
In Montgomery County, the electorate will vote for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, a
congressional representative, State Representative, County Commissioner, and County Auditor.
To fully participate, there are a number of things voters have to do to ensure they can exercise
their to franchise. For some, it is a tried-and-true process as customary as a national holiday. For
others, it can all seem daunting. That is where groups like the League of Women’s Voters
(LWV) for the Greater Dayton Area come in.
Dedicated to supporting the right of women to vote since the late 19 th century, the league remains
one of the best resources for voters in Montgomery County. Thanks to their use of the internet
and distribution of important guides, all the information a voter needs to know before going to
the polls is just a click away.
Christine Corba, Executive Director of the LWV, said, “A lot of times people don’t realize there
are general elections every year and we want to encourage people. It’s great to be registered to
vote but you have to make a plan.”
“There are many ways people can get involved. They can register for early voting at their Board
of Elections, request an absentee ballot, or vote on Election Day when polls open,” she said.
As explained by Corba, the last day to register for early voting is Oct. 11. Alternatively,
prospective voters who prefer to mail in their absentee ballot can request one online and must
have it postmarked by Nov. 7. To experience the election on the big day itself, voters will have
to head to their registered polling stations on Nov. 8.
Corba said, “There are a lot of highly important issues that candidates have been campaigning
about. That includes bail reform and a tax levy among many others.”
“At the LWV, we distribute a voter’s guide where we ask candidates a number of questions and
publish them unaltered. It is a great way for residents to get to know the people that want to
represent them. These guides will be available at local libraries and Sinclair Community
College,” she added.
According to Corba, the guides are available in both English and Spanish. In addition to being
available in print, they can also be found on the LWV’s website. Issues related to each individual
race can also be found online.
“There are a lot of local and statewide issues folks are voting on this year and it is important that
as many people as possible participate. The greater the participation, the better the outcome for
us all. We at the LWV are happy to answer anyone’s questions and help guide them through the
process,” Corba said.
To learn more about how to vote, where polling stations are located, and what issues are being
debated in each race interested parties can visit the LWV online at: https://www.lwvdayton.org/
Ismael Muhahid
Intern