The Patch Voter Guide
Our online voter guide lets you compare and contrast candidates, evaluate the pros and cons of pressing state and local issues, and then make your choices.
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NOTE: The guide works best in these browers: Firefox, Safari and Chrome. It doesn't play well with Internet Explorer.
If you're looking for information about the candidates for school boards and city councils, for mayors and municipal judges, we're here to help.
If you're still undecided about how to vote in the three statewide referendums, including the hotly debated Issue 2, or in local issues such as charter amendments and school levies, we can help with that, too.
Our voter guide provides biographical information on all the candidates and, in most cases, their answers to questions about issues in your community. It also gives quick summaries of state and local referendums.
The guide lets you make comparisons and mark your preferences much like you would on a real ballot. And once you've made your choices, you can print out a marked ballot to take into the voting booth or email a copy to your friends and family. You can even share your choices on Facebook.
It's all made possible by the Voter Guide, a joint project of Patch.com and E The People, a non-profit organization that helps voters in scores of communities across the country make informed choices about the candidates and issues of the day.
We at Patch.com hope you find the guide useful and informative. Let us know what you think in the comments below.
Amanda Harnocz
12:48 pm on Monday, October 31, 2011
What do you think of the voter guide? Should be a helpful tool: yes, no?
Colin McEwen
12:58 pm on Monday, October 31, 2011
Love it!
Megan Rozsa
1:13 pm on Monday, October 31, 2011
I live in the Fairlawn-Bath Patch, and I just finished reading about my candidates. This will make voting day nice and smooth!
Ed Kent
1:50 pm on Monday, October 31, 2011
I like the feature, but some of the phrasing of certain issues doesn't properly reflect the general proponent/opponent reasons.
I'm curious if certain parts were prepared by those outside Stow that may not be completely familiar with the issue and how both sides feel?
Example:
"A 6.57-mill levy for a period of 10 years that would generate $6.5 million annually for the district and would cost the owner of $100,000 home about $201 a year. Officials say passage of the levy, combined with previous cuts, would keep the district in the black through 2015 and reinstate bus service for high school students. Opponents argue that deeper cuts are necessary and don't want to increase their taxes any more."
May I ask who came up with that synopsis?
First of all, officials actually said passage of the levies (including the two renewals coming up which actually account for $55,000,000 over 5 years), combined with previous cuts, would keep the district in the black through 2015 and reinstate part of the bus service for some high school students as well as keep pay-to-participate fees lower and allow school buildings to stay open after educational time for extra-curricular activities. Officials also stated the levy would help provide cash reserves.
Secondly, it could have more 'from opponents': "Opponents argue that reasonable cuts are necessary to account for the loss of student enrollment and that the impending renewals ahead will be sufficient to remain in black thru 2015."
lissa bailey
10:44 am on Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Another reason some parents have said they're voting against the new levy is because of the IB issue, and it irritates them that we would pull money from available funds for expensive IB teacher training which could have gone to other things that might get cut. That's another important reason which could have been included in the opponents' view of the issue in the Patch ballot guide. You're correct, the opponents' view especially lacked the local explanation as if it was done from outside Stow with a general sense of "if you're against a levy you just don't want taxes" type of jab.
Peter Grossetti
2:08 pm on Monday, October 31, 2011
good idea IF those running for office actually filled out the surveys/questions. (few candidates in Lakewood did)
Megan Rozsa
4:19 pm on Monday, October 31, 2011
Hi Peter,
Candidates in all Patches had at least two weeks to fill out their surveys. I have a feeling we'll be getting more responses now that this is posted. Stay tuned! And thanks for reading!
Megan
Joe Strailey
2:19 pm on Monday, October 31, 2011
Very helpful, thanks for posting!
lissa bailey
2:34 pm on Monday, October 31, 2011
I agree this is helpful, but I also found the school levy issue explanation (in Stow) had a hint of bias and lacked local understanding of the actual facts concerning why some oppose it or approve.
Ed Kent
4:29 pm on Monday, October 31, 2011
I would have liked to seen some questions asked of the school board candidates and not just things like "Do you support the levy?" which doesn't leave much room for why they feel the way they do.
How about: "Do you believe the school district can improve the way it spends taxpayer money?" Yes or No.
That's about as loaded as the question about the levy. I won't blame any of them for not answering these questions with such limited space when they've already addressed these matters. Space is the problem isn't it? Or is Patch allowing them to explain their answers in depth? The answers are too complex to warrant such short answers and do justice for the candidate's campaign in my opinion.
Kelly Toppin
4:35 pm on Monday, October 31, 2011
Mr. Kent -
I would be more than happy to answer any of your questions, you can go to my Candidate profile and ask them there if you like.
Sean Blake
4:44 pm on Monday, October 31, 2011
I have an ad banner promoting an opponent in my race above my candidate profile picture. I promoted Mentor Patch on 2,500 pieces of campaign lit. this summer (directions to the candidates profiles), I was not given the opportunity to purchase that banner, nor would I have if it was to be placed above my competitor's profiles. It is just not right.
Donna
8:12 am on Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Why am I getting no results for Mayfield Heights, when we have multiple candidates for City Council? The system shows my address and location correctly, and then tells me there are no issues to vote on at this address.
Megan Rozsa
9:16 am on Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Hi Donna,
Could you please send me an email with what address you were using? We're trying to figure out why this didn't work for you. megan.rozsa@patch.com. Thank you!
Ed Kent
10:02 am on Tuesday, November 1, 2011
I had problems as well until I used Firefox instead of Internet Explorer.
Lila Tamulewicz
10:27 am on Tuesday, November 1, 2011
This is a great tool! Thanks Patch!
Megan Rozsa
12:48 pm on Tuesday, November 1, 2011
We think it's pretty cool, too, Lila! Thanks for using it and thanks for reading! Tell all your friends! :)
Anneliese
6:17 pm on Saturday, November 5, 2011
What a great source!
Brandon Tidd
1:54 am on Monday, November 7, 2011
Too bad real voting isn't this easy...
Sam Bridgeman
7:02 pm on Monday, November 7, 2011
I thought this was helpful and the information on the issues and representatives were easy to find in other locations.
Steve Rosen
10:02 am on Tuesday, November 8, 2011
In the interest of common good, All Beachwood Board of Ed candidates have decided to remove our representatives from the polling places. You are all free to go vote without having to shake any of our hands.
Penny
10:26 am on Tuesday, November 8, 2011
This might be a great tool if it worked with Internet Explorer. I am not computer-savvy and since I use Internet Explorer only, this tool did not pull any information for my district even though I know there are several races for which I would like information.