When is Election Day? 

The general election is Nov. 4.

When are polls open? 

Polls are open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

What is a primary election? 

The primary election decides who will represent each party in the general election. Local issues, such as school taxes, may also appear on the primary election ballot.

May I vote in a primary if I am registered as an independent? 

Independents may not vote for candidates in the Republican or Democratic primaries. However they may vote on any issues that appear on the primary ballot, such as school tax issues.

What is a general election? 

The general election decides who will win the office. In general one Democrat, one Republican and possibly several candidates from third parties, such as the Libertarian Party, run for offices in the general election. Local issues, such as school taxes, may also appear on the general election ballot.

Where do I vote 

Your county board of elections can tell you the location of your polling place.

• Find your polling place
  
• You can enter your address at the Ohio Secretary of State's Web site to determine your polling place.

How do I cast an absentee ballot? 

Ohio made it much easier to vote absentee in 2006. Absentee ballots may be cast either by mail or in person at the county board of elections office.

For more information about how to request an absentee ballot click here.

How do I determine my U.S. House District? 

U.S House Districts are created every 10 years by a state committee. To assure that every vote counts equally - one person, one vote - each district contains essentially the same number of residents. However, the shape can range from a compact rectangle to a long snake stretching across a dozen or more counties.

For a map showing Ohio's U.S. House Districts click here.

To determine which district you live in, enter your Zip code at the U.S. House of Representatives Web site.

Who wins? 

In Ohio, the person with the most votes wins, even if the winner has less than 50 percent of the vote. Ohio does not have run-off elections. A coin flip usually decides ties. A majority of voters must approve other issues - 50 percent plus 1 person. A tie is a loss. 

What is on the ballot this year? 

• President and vice president
• Representatives to Congress (all 18 districts)
• State senators (even-numbered districts)
• State representatives (all 99 districts)
• County commissioners (2 to be elected)
• County coroner
• County engineer
• County prosecutor
• County recorder
• County sheriff
• County treasurer
• Justices of the Ohio Supreme Court (2 to be elected)
• Court of appeals judges
• Common pleas court judges
• County court judges
• County clerk of courts
• Members of state board of education (6 of 11 districts)
• Members of state and county central committees of political parties

Local issues, ranging from municipal taxes to local liquor options may also appear on the ballot in your precinct.

Source: Ohio secretary of state

What is a mill? 

Ohio property taxes are levied in mills. A mill is $1 of taxation for each $1,000 of assessed value. However because of how Ohio taxation is structured, homes are assessed at only 35 percent of their true market value or appraised value and the state government shifts some money that it gets from the income tax to roll back part of the local property tax. A 1-mill tax costs the owner of a $100,000 home about $30.60 a year.

What is a continuing levy? 

A continuing levy is a permanent levy. It will always be collected, though at a reduced rate each year as the value of property increases. Many tax issues have a sunset date. A 10-year levy, for example, will expire at the end of 10 years.

What are replacement and renewal taxes? 

Replacement levies are tax hikes. 

Renewal levies do not increase taxes. 

Ohio tax issues are designed to yield the same amount of money each year. Using a complex formula the county auditor adjusts the effective tax rate each year as the value of property increases. If the total value of property - often called the tax duplicate - increases 10 percent in one year, the auditor is required to cut the tax rate by 10 percent. 

At the end of 10 years, a 10 mill levy might actually be collected at just a few mills. 

A replacement levy restores the tax rate to its original rate - increasing the amount each person pays in taxes . 

A renewal levy allows the levy to continue to be collected at the reduced rate.

What is a bond issue? 

A bond issue allows schools and governments to issue bonds - to go into debt - to do such things as build schools and roads. Bond issues typically are paid off with property tax receipts. However, some bond issues are paid off by other sources of funding.