There is no shame in taking an occasional break from political news, and summer is usually a good time to do it. But we are interrupting your August to remind you about Issue 1 and the special election to determine whether it should be more difficult for Ohio citizens to change the state constitution.

If you’re just tuning in or need a recap, you can read this detailed FAQ explaining ballot initiatives generally, Issue 1 specifically and why this all can’t wait until November.

If you’re unsure about your voting options or rights, this FAQ covers photo ID requirements and the rights of people with disabilities and people with criminal records. 

Early in-person voting

Cuyahoga County voters can cast their ballots before Aug. 8 at the Board of Elections, 2925 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, during these hours:

Friday, Aug. 4: 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 5: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Sunday, Aug. 6: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

For free parking options, see the image below. There is no early voting on Monday.

Mail-in ballots

If you requested and already returned a mail-in ballot, you can confirm whether it was received at this link.

If you requested but have not returned a mail-in ballot, it must be postmarked by Aug. 7.

If you requested a mail-in ballot but would rather vote in person, you can. You will be asked to vote by provisional ballot, meaning your vote will be verified and counted after election day. This is to ensure that no one can vote twice.

Where to vote on Aug. 8

Some polling places have changed in Cleveland’s Ward 7 and Ward 9, as well as in East Cleveland, Lyndhurst, North Olmsted, Seven Hills, Shaker Heights, South Euclid and University Heights.

Here are the details for the Cleveland changes:

Ward 7: Voters who live in Precincts A, C and V will now vote at the Asia Town Center at 3820 Superior Ave.

Voters who live in Precinct J will now vote at the St. Clair Place at 1380 E. 13th St.

Voters who live in Precincts S and T will now vote at Magnet Consulting at 1800 E. 63rd St.

Ward 9: Voters who live in Precincts J, K, L and P will now vote at the Stephanie Tubbs Jones Hall at Case Western Reserve University at 1576 E. 115th St.

The BOE sent letters to affected voters in June. It also created an interactive map. Anyone can confirm their polling place with their last name and date of birth on this page of the BOE web site.

At all locations, the polls will be open Tuesday from 6:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m.

Don’t fall for dirty tricks

Be wary of calls, texts, flyers, signs or social media posts making claims about changes to voting rules, locations, dates or times. You can check any such claims by calling the Board of Elections at 216-443-8683.

If you encounter any apparent misinformation, please let Signal Cleveland know, so we can inform other voters, by sending a tip through this link (anonymously if you prefer); by sending an email to frank@signalcleveland.org; or by contacting us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.