Ohio: Marijuana Issue Already Turning Out Voters

[Jacob Redmond]

Local boards of election leaders expect an increased turnout for early voting because of the marijuana issue that is on the Nov. 3 ballot.

Early voting started Tuesday, and some boards have already reported an uptick.

A few more people voting early at the Board of Elections office in Greene County Tuesday, but many more requested ballots to vote from home.

"So far today we have had 73 voters. That number is a bit high for the first day of early voting," said Greene County Board of Elections Director Llyn McCoy. "Generally we average around 50 voters on the first day."

In Warren County, Board of Elections Director Brian Sleeth said his office is preparing for about 5,000 early voters – more than double the total who turned out in 2013.

"It depends what's on the ballot that drives voter turnout," Sleeth said. "For that reason it makes it hard to predict."

The last time there was this much buzz around a ballot issue was in 2011, when Ohio voters decided the fate of Senate Bill 5 and collective bargaining. Sleeth said nearly 11,000 people voted early that year.

State issues can drive turnout in odd-year elections when there is not a presidential or governor's race on the ballot. In 2009, voter turnout was nearly 40 percent, driven by the statewide casino issue. In 2013, when there was not a statewide issue on the ballot, turnout was nearly cut in half with only 23 percent of registered voters showing up.

Sleeth said he thinks more advertising will be spent on the marijuana issue this year than was spent to repeal Senate Bill 5 in 2011.

"I could paper my entire office on just what I received in the mail," he said.

McCoy said early voting is increasingly popular with Greene County voters.

"About a third of our voters either vote by mail or take advantage of early in person voting," she said. "We have folks who always come in to our office to vote early and they often joke that they don't even know where there Election Day polling place is located."

McCoy said she expects higher turnout this year "due to some contested races and potentially because of Issue 3."

Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted says Ohio voters have "one of the most generous voting schedules in the nation."

"Between now and Election Day, voters have the option of voting from the comfort of their own home 24/7 by mail, heading to the early vote center in their county during the more than 200 hours available to cast an absentee ballot in person, or they can wait until Election Day when there will be 13 hours to vote," Husted said. "With three statewide constitutional amendments on the ballot there is a lot at stake and it's important to make your voice heard."

When can you vote early?

You can vote early at your county board of elections office on the following dates and times:

- Weekday hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. today through Friday, Oct. 23; 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 26-30

- No voting: There will be no early voting on Columbus Day, Oct. 12

- Weekend days: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31, and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 1

- Last early voting day: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, Nov. 2

News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Marijuana Issue Already Turning Out Voters
Author: Anthony Shoemaker
Contact: Contact Page
Photo Credit: NBC
Website: Dayton Daily News

 

[ilynnboy]

I believe there will be a rather large turn out For Issue 3.
Let the people's voices be heard.
We have six more weeks to end prohibition in Ohio.

 

[DrRootswell]

I believe there will be a rather large turn out For Issue 3.
Let the people's voices be heard.
We have six more weeks to end prohibition in Ohio.

the early voters will all be against it. don't celebrate too soon. this is a corporate we are gonna screw you measure anyway. only a fool would vote yes for this stinko clusterfuck

 

[ilynnboy]

I am a fool then.

 

[DrRootswell]

hell its ur vote. I respect that. its not the end of prohibition at all. Another thing, illynboy, is the hypocricy of using Bob Marley as your icon thingy when Bob himself would have fought mightily to prevent the fat rich white men from coming in and sweeping up all that we have all fought so long for. Maybe you just interested in smoking weed and think that is freedom without any knowledge or interest in the philosophy of life Bob Marley represented. Do you think rastafarianism is up for capitulation to the very class of people who have waged this war on us all this time now that our numbers have grown through our years of victimization and persecution and oppression? These same folks who are behind the Responsible Ohio have been financing the war by money as well as philosophy for the last 40 years.They are all Republican Shitbirds who have given a shit less about us, and you want the opportunity to pay them 20$ a gram? What a crock. They still don't give a fuck about us and will fire us if a pisstest shows we are less than compliant. A piss test is the equivalent of a Hitler Oath. Wish you would not desecrate Bob's memory. Thank you

 

[ilynnboy]

Bob thought that Ganja was a gift from God.
Or more rightly Jah.
I have been a fan of Robert Nesta Marley for over 30 years.
Do not speak to me of what Bob would want.
I guess his children should not profit from ganja either?
Get a grip brother.
How many times you been to Jamaica bra?
Myself 3 times, Ihave walked the streets of Jamaica sat and burned joints with the Rasta.
Bob made money and lots of it.
He thought ganja should be free but that will never happen.
Not in this capatalist society.
Would I love it to be free like tomatoes?
I know in my heart that it is the healing of the nations.
The tree of life.
One that should be shared freely with all who need it.
That is where I stand brother.
Unfortunately, I do not have $40,000,000 to buy signatures.
They did, they should profit from it.
The People can and should petition for a better law.
I will sign for it just as I did before when it failed to reach their numbers.
But this makes me free of criminal prosecution for that ounce I keep locked up.
Hell I will probably grow a few as well.
It is imperfect, but it is now.

 

[ilynnboy]

In Jamaica they are trying to bring the little farmer to the table in Ganja production.
They say he da one who been Thru it all man.
I wholeheartedly agree with that, but this is not Jamaica.
I read Both Major Jamaican newspapers everyday,
I love and breath Jamaica.
Who is their Prime Minister?
Leader of Parliament?
Get a grip.
That kind of pissed me off.
What would Bob want??
Now that is hypocracy, speaking for someone not alive to speak for themselves.
Oh wait, his children branded Marley Ganja.
I guess their father would be mad at them too huh?
Better Call Ziggy, Stephen, and Damien and tell them their dad is not pleased with them.

 

[DrRootswell]

haha. I have eaten at Taco Bell so I know what it is to be a mexican. You is funny white tourist goes to jamaica, stays in his hotel, clean sheets, and slums with the rasta so he can say he did. What does that have to do with these hijackers? Money is not bad, it is the way of the world. It is what you do with it that matters. I have no desires to buy expensive cars while the abandoned pets languish in their tiny cages. I want fairness and equality for all. I want inclusiveness. I want justice. Everyone is crying out for peace, no one is crying out for justice-Peter Tosh. The split between Bob and Peter happened when Blackwell had the Wailers touring for free, Peter said shit on this and went back home. I want the total commercialization taken out of it and very reasonable prices for the medical side with the " recreational" side not paying outrageous " illegal" prices for what is after all just an agricultural commodity. I want equal opportunity for all to compete freely so that the best will rise to the top through innovation and knowledge, not through heavyhanded corrosive coercive state power enforcing the market interests of the few. That is what the Farm Bureau wants too. The best prices and quality always result when producers compete for market share, the consumer benefits. When there are just a couple airlines, customer service and ticket prices suffer. When there are just a couple producers in control of gas prices, the consumer suffers through collusion by the limited number of producers. Innovation occurs in an open market. There is no incentive to innovate and create efficiencies when you have corrosive coercive state power enforcing the market power of the few. Last time I went to Krogers, I was amazed by the variety of wines available to the consumer. How can anyone argue with these true market/ consumer force arguments? Pissed off is better than pissed on. I myself am tired of being pissed on. So what the kids got money to allow the use of their name? Bob would not be pleased/ displeased with kids, he would be pleased/displeased by what they did with it. If they turned into little consumer bots he would have been displeased.

 

[ilynnboy]

Wow like you know me.
Or Bob Marley for that matter. I am aghast at your knowledge of people and places you are not privy to.
I am done with this conversation now.
I will vote yes.
If it fails in November and you get caught with an ounce and go to jail all you have to blame is yourself..
I have listened to all Bobs music even the early 60's recordings...
Have you ever sat and broke bread with the Rasta?
I have on more than one occasion.
Do not tell me what they think and espouse.
They already did that for themselves.
Go to Jamaica, go to see the Maroons, eat with them talk with them, smoke a cone drink a red stripe.
Then you may know something,
Until then good day.
Oh by the way, tourist account for a major part of Jamaicas economy..
They do not belittle visitors as it is how they eat..
One needs to travel to really see the world and how it really operates..
I would like to be idealistic, but I will choose pragmatism.
Sorry you don't agree with me but that is the inherent greatness of America.
Ok I have said my peace without slandering you or calling you out for anything.
You seem to be unable to prove your point without attacking me.
So I shall leave never to return to this thread.
May you be blessed in life with all the riches and happiness that you desire and work for.
Ilynnboy out.