AKRON, Ohio – Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose cast his ballot in the May primary election on Tuesday, the first of 28 days of early voting in Ohio.

LaRose and his wife Lauren, both Hudson residents, voted at the Summit County Board of Elections in Akron.

“Ohio is by far a leader in the nation for early voting,” LaRose told cleveland.com. “It’s easier to vote in Ohio than most other states.”

Starting Tuesday, Ohioans have more than 200 hours to cast their ballot at an early voting location, LaRose said.

“If you don’t want to come in and do early in-person voting like this, you can vote from the comfort of home by mail,” he said, adding that at-home voters can research candidates and issues to be informed as they fill out their ballot.

Anyone who does not want to vote early can wait until Election Day, May 7, when they’ll have from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. to vote at their polling location.

“As I like to say, there is legitimately no excuse for not voting,” LaRose said. “This is a right that people have fought for, even died for, and this is something that every Ohioan should take advantage of.”

Although primary elections tend to have lower turnout than general elections, the secretary of state hopes Ohioans show up to have their voices heard on issues that affect their communities.

“These local elections, these local issues, really impact the way that people live and the quality of life in their community, so it’s a very important thing,” he said.

The LaRoses and other Hudson residents have only one issue, Issue 11, on their ballots. The initiative seeks to continue the redevelopment of the “Downtown Phase Two” area, and will be subject to final approval from the Architectural and Historic Board of Review and Hudson City Council.

Akronites are voting in mayoral and city council primaries.

The Twinsburg City School District is seeking a renewal for a tax levy that provides for the emergency requirements of the school district.

There are additional tax levies for Tallmadge City Schools for Tallmadge and Munroe Falls voters, and Nordonia Hills City School District for Macedonia voters. Green residents will vote on a renewal for a Green Local School District tax levy as well as primaries for mayor, city council at-large and law director.

For information about voting, visit the Secretary of State’s website at www.MyOhioVote.com.

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