By Ronda Watson Barber
Licking County Today, PublisherWhy is my polling place at a BAR? I don’t understand why Licking County officials think this is a good idea.
Why do I have to drive 1.6 miles away to vote instead of walking up the street to the elementary school where I once voted? What if I didn’t have a car? Newark doesn’t have public transportation.
Is this voter suppression?
Officials are complaining that people aren’t voting, particularly in the August primaries. As quoted in the Newark Advocate, “The absentee voting has been pretty abysmal,” Licking County Board of Elections Director Luke Burton said. “If it’s 10% (turnout), I’ll be happy, which is kind of sad.”
Licking County has about 124,000 registered voters, but only 2,550 cast absentee votes, with 1,281 in the BOE office and 1,269 by mail. In May, there were about 5,000 absentee ballots cast and the overall turnout was 22.6%.
Today’s primary will decide Democratic and Republican candidates who will represent us in the Ohio Senate and House. It will also decide who will serve on your party’s state central committee. Polls are open from 6:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m.
Why is participating in our democracy becoming harder and harder?
Just my thoughts…rwb