The Center for Community Solutions is a nonpartisan, nonprofit policy and research think tank. As a 501(c)3 organization, IRS rules limit the amount of resources we can expend in direct or grassroots lobbying, and engaging in partisan pursuits could put our nonprofit status at risk. Two different activities that are explicitly allowed, as they are nonpartisan activities, are taking an official position on levy and issue campaigns and encouraging everyone, regardless of party affiliation, to vote. Historically, we have done both and this election cycle is no different.
In September, The Center for Community Solutions’ Board voted to support Cuyahoga County Issues 10 and 11. Issue 10 is a 2.25 mills, 10-year levy to support the Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities and Issue 11 is a 7.2 mills (renewal of 4.7 mills and an increase of 2.5 mills), 10-year levy to fund health and human services in Cuyahoga County.
November 3 is Election Day in Ohio and across the country
Polls are open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Election Day; individuals can find their polling location here. October 5, 2026, is the deadline to register to vote or to update your address so everyone should check their registration beforehand to ensure all information is up to date. For those living in Cuyahoga County interested in registering in person, the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections is open until 9:00 p.m. on Monday, October 5 to accommodate voter registrations.
Early voting begins on October 6 in Ohio
Beginning the day after the voter registration deadline, early voting will be available on weekdays at County Boards of Election until October 23.
- October 24 is the first Saturday of early voting
- After October 24, hours are extended, with the last day of early voting on November 1
- There is no early voting on November 2, the Monday before election day
The full schedule for early voting in Cuyahoga County can be found here.
Ohio allows individuals to vote absentee without any prerequisites
Ohioans can request an absentee ballot until noon on the Saturday before Election Day, which is October 31, and can return their completed ballot by either mailing it in or dropping it off in person by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day at your County Board of Elections.
One recent change to state law related to absentee mail-in ballots is that they must be received by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day.
Historically, absentee ballots were counted if they arrived within four days after the election, but that is no longer the case, so the Ohio Secretary of State encourages individuals to mail their ballot as soon as possible to allow for delivery by the deadline.
Bring proper identification, no matter where you vote
For those voting either in person on Election Day or early at a County Board of Elections, it is imperative to have the proper identification. Ohio law requires voters to present an unexpired, valid photo ID that includes the voter’s photograph and name. This includes U.S. passports, military IDs, state of Ohio ID cards, and Ohio driver licenses.
Information on acceptable and unacceptable forms of identification can be found on the Ohio Secretary of State’s Website. View a sample, unofficial ballot for your precinct there as well.
Ballots in Ohio are laid out in a specific way; check all the pages!
Ohio ballots progress the same way, from statewide to local. First is statewide office (including judges), countywide office, statewide amendments, county or local amendments or issues, municipal, school and county levies.
- Federal offices, when on the ballot
- Governor and Lieutenant Governor
- Attorney General
- Auditor of State
- Secretary of State
- Treasurer of State
- Ohio Supreme Court Justices
- U.S Senator
- U.S. House of Representatives
- Ohio Court of Common Pleas Justices
- County Executive
- Ohio Issues and Constitutional Amendments
- Issue 3—Voter identification
- County, local levies and issues, and school funding
- Issue 10—Cuyahoga County Health and Human Services
- Issue 11—Cuyahoga County Developmental Disabilities
View a sample ballot by city and precinct. Unofficial but full ballot will be viewable, according to the above order.
Regardless of how and who you plan to vote for on Election Day, it is imperative to be prepared and have a plan to vote.
Voting is an essential piece of our democracy, and there is no better way to participate in democracy than to vote. Make sure you have an acceptable form of identification, know where to vote, encourage others to vote, and consider supporting Issues 10 and 11 in Cuyahoga County (ALL the way at the end of the ballot!) to maintain developmental disabilities services as well as health and human services in our community.
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