Record number of Vote-by-mail ballots cast in municipal primaries

The Cuyahoga County Board of Elections continued efforts’ to improve the election process was put to the test in the May 5, 2009 Primary Election after making precinct and Voting Location changes that affected hundreds of thousands of voters in 29 communities. 

Voter turnout for the election was 25 %, a large increase from the prior Municipal Primary Election in 2007. 

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Jane Platten, Director of the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections, credits the Board’s efforts’ to encourage Vote by Mail for the higher turnout numbers. “This election demonstrates that there is a connection between the growing popularity of voting by mail and more voters getting involved with the democratic process,” said Platten.

“At the polls no problems or issues surfaced on Election Day because voters and election staff were prepared,” said Jane Platten. “Poll workers were trained to guide voters to their correct precincts when they arrived, and most voters were aware of their new Voting Locations from direct mailings, media coverage, and the help of our community partners,” Platten concluded. 

• The number of people who voted by mail exceeded the number of people who cast ballots at the polls for the first time in a Cuyahoga County election.

69,899 ballots were cast in the election. (Unofficial, not including all Absentee
            and Provisional ballots.)

42,832 Voted by Mail (59%)

28,636 Voted on Election Day (41%) 

• Ten times the number of people voted by mail in May 2009 compared to May 2007.

42,832 Vote by Mail ballots cast May 2009

              3,868 Vote by Mail ballots cast May 2007

• Voter turnout doubled compared to May 2007

25 % Voter Turnout May 2009 (to date) (69,899 ballots cast)

12 % Voter Turnout May 2007               (40,326 ballots cast)

Changes made to precincts also saved money.  18 municipalities saved between $2,567 and over $77,000 as the result of new precinct boundaries and the consolidation of Voting Locations.

The Cuyahoga County Board of Elections is continuing its work of drawing new precinct and ward boundaries as part of the Precinct Reduction Plan.  Changes are being made in the City of Cleveland and in the remaining 26 suburban municipalities in Cuyahoga County.  The work is expected to be completed by early summer.

For additional information visit the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections Web site: www.boe.cuyahogacounty.us