MOUNT VERNON — Wanting to give Ohio a more meaningful voice in the choice of a president, the Legislature passed a resolution to move primary elections to March in presidential election years. The change began in 1996.
The May to March move may or may not make it harder to pass a levy, but it does potentially reduce levy fatigue by limiting the number of times a school district could place a funding issue on the ballot, said Dan Freund, superintendent of Clear Fork Schools.
Rita Yarman, director of the Knox County Board of Elections, said the move does cause some confusion among voters, since odd-year elections (nonpresidential primaries) are still held in May. According to Highland School Superintendent Tim Hilborn, some individuals don’t readily recognize March balloting as an official primary, mistakenly assuming it is a special ballot.
The date switch also results in a crunch in the board of elections office.
“When we have primaries in presidential years,” Yarman said, “it really turns everything around and we’re busier than usual. It’s a quite difficult task, because even though odd-year general elections are all local races, there are lots and lots of candidates on the ballot, and lots and lots of work for us to do. As we’re trying to finish up the November 2007 election, we’re already preparing for another — a big one, too — the presidential primary.
“The schedule is really tight,” Yarman continued. “The filing deadlines for questions and issues was Dec. 20, and filing deadlines for candidates is this Friday, Jan. 4. We have to review all the ballot language submitted by governing and taxing agencies, such as townships and school districts, and that of boards controlled by the county, like the mental retardation and developmental disabilities board and the health department. All those have to be sent to the state for approval [to make sure the ballot language is correct] and then sent back to us. Then we in the local board of elections have to prepare the ballot layout. It really rushes our offices. On top of that, the work is during the holiday season, and that complicates everything, too.”
Although an early primary means residents must register to vote by Feb. 4, voter turnout is higher for March primaries than for May primaries, according to data from the Ohio Secretary of State’s Web site. Turnout is determined by the number of registered electors who actually vote. In March 1996, 29.53 percent of the registered voters in Ohio went to the polls. In May 1998, the turnout was 28 percent, and in March 2000, it was 34.9 percent. The turnout rate dropped to 19.4 percent in May 2002 and rose again in March 2004 to 32.84 percent. The May 2006 primary attracted only 24.28 of the registered voters.
In Knox County, voter turnout also declines for May primaries. In March 1996, 40.44 percent of registered voters actually voted. In May 1998, 30.43 percent turned out, and 39.4 percent voted in the March 2000 primary. The elector turnout for the May 2006 primary dropped to 24.57 percent.
Bill Moody, chairman of the Knox County Republican Party, said that in a presidential year, no matter when the primary is, there is a higher voter turnout. That is one advantage to the early polling date.
“Anytime more voters are involved in an election,” he said, “it’s good.”
Also, as the Legislature apparently intended, a March primary allows Ohio to be more of a player nationally in figuring out the primary presidential candidates.
“That’s why it’s early,” Moody explained. “It used to be that by the time May [primaries] rolled around, both parties had their candidates pretty well selected. If Ohio wants to be a player, and particularly this year it looks like the selection could still be up for grabs come March 3, I think this year, as a state, we could be more likely to become a player in the actual selection of the primary front runner. ... Ohio could very well make a difference.”
While an early primary may give Ohio an advantage on the national level, Knox County Democratic chairman Jim Zak thinks it is a disadvantage locally.
“Because the filing date is Jan. 4,” he said, “I think it is too early. We are not far away from the last election, and I think a lot of people are not aware of the fact that the filing date is as soon as it is. ... People who have been involved in campaigns are tired out, and you just move from one and have to jump into the next one. I think the holidays affect it, too.
“I would much rather see the later dates. It would give people more time to think about things after the fall general election. I think that would enhance our chances of getting good, qualified candidates. ... We’re eliminating too many people from the process, not only the voting process, but the process of becoming a candidate. I think the whole process needs to be given back to the people a little bit as far as timing goes and I think we need to get the ‘little guy’ involved. ... The whole primary process at the federal process goes on too long. I think we turn people off rather than turn them on. We have to go to something that allows everyone a say in the selection as far as the primary is concerned. The issue needs a lot of discussion and debate.”
While possibly confusing voters, Zak said, moving primary dates certainly confuses party reorganization. Both Democrats and Republicans reorganize the party every two years. Whenever the primary is, that’s the month when people run for the party’s central committee. The central committee then, by law, reorganizes the party 15 days after the primary.
“So,” Zak said, “in the presidential election years we reorganize in March. In the off years we reorganize in May or even the early part of June.”
