MOUNT VERNON — In recent years, efforts have been made to make the democratic process more accessible to more people by making it easier to vote. Ohio has enacted a no-fault, absentee voting process as one example of these efforts. In the past, absentee ballots were only available on a limited basis to people who met certain criteria.
With no-fault absentee voting, the voter need not give a reason for requesting a ballot. Ballots are available 35 days before the general election; this year, ballots will be available Sept. 30. Voters will be presented with a ballot that includes not just the presidential election, but numerous races and issues on the state and local level.
“We expect a record [turnout] this year,” said Rita Yarman, director of the Knox County Board of Elections. “We are promoting absentee voting because the ballot is going to be at least three pages, if not four.”
Although absentee voting makes it easier on voters and the board of elections, it can pose problems for local political parties and their candidates in relation to when political signs are allowed to be placed. Current regulations throughout the county leave only a 5- to 10-day window between when signs can be placed and early voting begins.
“[The sign restriction for Mount Vernon] is 45 days before the election,” said Mount Vernon Mayor Richard Mavis. “We have not had, for the most part, any complaints about political yard signs.”
Asked whether the city’s restrictions on political yard signs might be at odds with the current voting timetable, Mavis said the ordinance might warrant a second look.
“Clearly this business of encouraging people to vote has made it more accessible and expanded the [voting] time,” Mavis said. “Having been a candidate 15 times, it seems reasonable to me if they are going to open up that window of time to vote, then maybe [Mount Vernon City] Council needs to look at that.”
Mavis said the city has never strictly enforced the ordinance unless someone complained about an excessive situation.
“Personally, I think if we are giving people more time to vote, I think we need to go in and look at that [sign restrictions] again, Mavis said. “I just think these are changing times and we need to relook at not just this, but the entire sign usage ordinance.”
Apple Valley and Howard restrict political yard signs to 30 days before the election; Centerburg has a similar restriction. Gambier has no restrictions on how soon signs can be put up, but does have restrictions in the zoning code limiting temporary yard signs to 30 consecutive days or less. This, in effect, limits yard signs to 30 days before the election. Fredericktown has no codified restrictions, but as a matter of tradition, limits political signs to private property only, and only with the property owner’s permission. The county at large has no restrictions; according to Knox County Commissioner Alan Stockberger, the county has no authority to do so.
Lou Petros, chairman of the Knox County Republican Party, said the party has not discussed the restrictions as far as taking a position on changing them.
“The voting process has been greatly lengthened in the last several presidential years,” Petros said. “I guess I would ask the question why the limitations were put on the yard signs, and is that relevant today? I don’t know what the reasoning was when the ordinance was passed. Does it need to be revisited? Yes, it might. I haven’t reviewed the ordinance myself, and I probably should do that. The party has been receiving signage by the candidates and has been passing it out. The party itself has not been putting up the signs. It’s OK for us to hand them out, but it’s the property owner’s responsibility to put them up.”
Jim Zak, chairman of the Knox County the Democratic Party would, for the time being, not contest the ordinance.
“I don’t anticipate the Democrats doing anything about [the ordinance,]” Zak said. “And the reason is, I don’t think it’s a bad idea to have a restriction like that. Unless it’s unconstitutional, as some people have suggested to me, we will just have to live with the rule. The party’s just in line with what came down from city hall on this ordinance. I don’t think any of us have a problem with this.”
Zak downplayed the influence political signs can have on the electorate.
“I’m not really a sign guy,” he said. “We bring out a sample ballot — and the Republicans do the same thing — that is mailed out. And the way we do it is when people register for an absentee ballot, we get their names and we send them out, usually just to Democrats and sometimes to certain categories of undecideds. That can have an effect.”
Zak said early absentee voting will probably have an effect on all types of advertising strategies for the candidates.
“Now the concern is that if somebody goes up to vote on Sept. 30 and has chosen not to receive a sample ballot, a good percentage of those early voters would not have the information they would have had before [no-fault absentee voting,]” Zak said. “This would also have an effect on how you gear your media advertising. A lot of candidates would hit it heavy the week before the election. And you will either have a lot of people voting before they get hit with the heavy advertising, or the candidates will have to change their program.
“I believe you need to have a number of hits on a person before you can convince him of anything,” he continued. “But I don’t really believe in a lot of signs all over the place. What a sign should signify is that here is a supporter of a particular candidate, and what that should do is influence your neighbors or your friends. I think too many signs is just a waste of money.”
