Cuyahoga County is a Democratic Party stronghold, so it’s not surprising activity outside the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections on Sunday had a partisan flavor. The final day of in-person early voting before Tuesday’s election drew thousands of voters and top Democratic candidates, including gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton and Senate candidate Sherrod Brown. They and others greeted voters in a legally designated area away from the entrance of the elections board.
Several voting groups, including those that advocate for increased participation among Black voters, were also present around the building. One group provided a DJ and erected a backdrop for photographs. Such groups are prohibited from engaging voters in line. Several groups, under the banner of “Sisters Stroll,” provided rides to senior citizens living in apartments operated by the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority.
Civil rights activists and others with voter advocacy groups held a news conference outside the building to discuss what they see as attempts by the federal government to intimidate voters. The coalition, operating as the Vote Safe Project, plans to deploy poll watchers in Ohio, Michigan and other key U.S. Senate battlegrounds. The group plans to observe federal monitors. U.S. Rep. Shontel Brown was one of the speakers at the news conference.
Signal Cleveland asked a number of voters what issues matter most in this election and why they were voting early. Nearly everyone cited concerns about the economy. They also said they were willing to stand in long lines Sunday because they feared lines could be worse on Election Day.
Anthony Perlatti, the director of Cuyahoga County’s elections board, said that he expected several thousand people to vote on Sunday. He said the early turnout figures would likely exceed those from previous midterm elections in the county.
