Voters can ask questions of county-wide candidates in the contested Primary Election races at the Voters & Candidate Face2Face forum organized by the League of Women Voters of Kent on Saturday, Feb. 17, 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
The forum, designed for small group question-and-answer sessions, will be held in Pierson Hall of Kent United Methodist Church, 1435 E. Main St., Kent. It is free and open to the public. Co-sponsors are Kent Environmental Council, Portage County NAACP, Kent State Votes, the National Alliance on Mental Illness Portage County and the Kent State University Division of People, Culture and Belonging.
The League’s policy has been to provide voters with the opportunity to question candidates in contested races. The contested races in the March 19 primary this year are all Republican contests. The Democrat Party has no contested races. During the meeting, candidates meet at round tables with a small group of voters who ask candidates their own questions. Each table will have a facilitator.
The League has invited candidates running for: the 14th Congressional District, the 72nd District for Ohio House of Representatives, Portage County Commissioner term beginning Jan. 2, 2025 and Portage County Commissioner term beginning Jan. 3, 2025. Any candidate is welcome to attend the forum and talk with voters before or after the small group sessions. Each table will have a person facilitating.
Citizens will also be able to register to vote, change their address and pick up an absentee ballot application at the forum. The deadline to register or make changes to vote in the Primary Election is Feb. 20. The deadline for absentee ballot applications to be received by the Portage County Board of Elections is March 12.
LWVK and the League of Women Voters of Northern Portage County will be providing the local Voters’ Guide will be online by Feb. 21 at https://vote411.org when early and absentee voting begins. The guide allows voters to enter their addresses and see candidate and issue information for their precinct. A downloadable version of the LWV Kent Voters’ Guide will be available by Feb. 21, at the League webpage https://my.lwv.org/ohio/kent/voting for the first day of absentee or early voting.
Early (absentee) voting takes place at the office of the Board of Elections, 449 S. Meridian St., Ravenna, Ohio. Here are the early voting dates and times and other important dates:
• Weekdays, Feb. 21 – March 8: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. In-person early voting
• Saturday, March 9: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
• Monday, March 11: 7:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, March 12: 7:30 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.
• Wed. – Friday, March 13 – 15: 7:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. In-person early voting
• Saturday, March 16: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. In-person early voting
• Sunday, March 17: 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. In-person early voting; EARLY VOTING ENDS
• Monday, March 18: NO EARLY VOTING
• Monday, March 18: Mailed absentee ballots must be postmarked by this date
• Tuesday, March 19: Polls are open 6:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.
For the most up-to-date information about the election, go to the Board of Elections web pages at https://www.portagecounty-oh.gov/board-elections or call 330-297-3511. Call the League of Women Voters of Kent at 330-271-6188 or email the group at lwvkent@gmail.com.
The League of Women Voters of Kent is a nonpartisan political organization encouraging the informed and active participation of citizens in government. It influences public policy through education and advocacy. The Kent League is committed to building a diverse organization that supports a community of respect, celebration and empowerment for people of all backgrounds, generations and cultures to participate in government. All other information about the league can be found at kentlwv.org or on the Facebook page at League of Women Voters of Kent.
