2020 Primary Update / Information about 2020 Reorganization Meeting

1. 2020 Primary Update

The Ohio Legislature has extended the 2020 Primary until April 28, 2020. Voting will take place by mail only. The Ohio Secretary of State will be sending a postcard to every registered voter in Ohio to inform them of this change, explain how voting will work, and provide them with relevant deadlines.

Here’s the good news: Voters who have already voted by mail or voted early in person at the Board of Elections will have their votes counted. You will NOT need to recast your ballot.

For anyone who has not yet voted, here’s how the process will work:

1. Voters will first need to request an absentee ballot from the Board of Elections. You can make the request by printing off this form or, if you are unable to print your own form, by calling the Board of Elections (513/632-7000) and asking them to mail you a request form. Once you receive the form, fill out the form in its entirety and make sure you mark that you are asking for a Democratic Party ballot. Upon completion of the application, return to the Hamilton County Board of Elections by either mail or by dropping it off in the marked receptacle on site at the Hamilton County Board of Elections (4700 Smith Road, Cincinnati, OH 45212). All requests for absentee ballots must be received by the Board of Elections by noon on April 25, 2020.

2. Once your request is in, the Board of Elections will mail you a ballot. The ballot will have instructions on how to complete it, and ballots will have return postage paid to the Board of Elections. Once you fill out your ballot, you simply mail it back in to the Board in the envelope provided. Ballots can also be returned by placing the sealed envelope in a marked receptacle on site at the Board of Elections. The deadline to postmark your ballot is April 27, 2020. Ballots being dropped off on site in the receptacle at the Board of Elections must be received by 3:00 PM on April 28, 2020.

To mail your absentee request or drop off your ballot, the Hamilton County Board of Elections address is 4700 Smith Road, Cincinnati, OH 45212.

Finally, voters who (1) have a disability and wish to use an in-person voting machine or (2) are unable to receive mail may vote early in person at the Board of Elections. If you believe you fall into one of these two categories, call the Board of Elections at 513/632-7000.

If you have further questions, or seek clarification on any of these points, please contact Eddie Davenport at eddie@hamiltoncountydems.org.

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2. Update from ODP Secretary Bill DeMora on County Party Organizational Meetings

Below, please find correspondence from Ohio Democratic Party Secretary Bill DeMora providing direction to County Chairs regarding County Party reorganization meetings considering our County Central Committees will be reformed by Central Committee elections in the primary as well as the fact that State order limits large gatherings. We have received questions from a few Hamilton County members on these matters and here is what we are being advised.

Dear County Chairs,

I hope this finds you safe and healthy. PLEASE do everything you can to follow social distancing guidelines and the recommendations of the State Health Director.

Several of you have asked about what will happen to county reorganization meetings and county parties with the postponement of the March 17th Primary Election. Here is what we know as of this minute:

PLEASE NOTE: All current party officers and current members of county central and executive committees ARE still in place.

Until the General Assembly and/or the Supreme Court acts to extend the primary and/or sets another date for the primary election, your current committee(s) stays in place.

When the General Assembly and/or the Supreme Court does set another date, ODP will send out another memo with detailed instructions on what will need to be done and dates by which it will need to be done.

HOWEVER, even if/when a new election date is set, and the primary election is finally certified, if the Governor’s order prohibiting all meetings of more than 10 individuals is still in place, the timeline for reorganization meetings will continue to be extended until such time that the order is lifted by the State Health Director. ODP does NOT want any county party to hold a reorganization meeting (or any party meeting) while the prohibition of meetings is still in place.

Yours Democratically,

Bill DeMora

Secretary, Ohio Democratic Party

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Hamilton County Democratic Party will provide more instruction on these matters as they become more clear following certification of the 2020 Primary election and direction from the Ohio Democratic Party on the appropriate timeline and plan to proceed with HCDP reorganization meeting.