2/19/2004

Voters to partake in Ohio primaries

Rachel Myers
Daily Kent Stater

For the second time in Ohio history, voters will voice their choice on Super Tuesday, March 2, of the primary presidential election.

Before 2000, ballots were cast in early May, a date many contended was too late in the election process to make a noticeable difference. By moving the date, supporters of the plan argued, Ohio issues would command a brighter spotlight from presidential hopefuls.

Additionally, state and local officials would benefit from tighter contacts with such candidates. The March date is only in effect during years of presidential elections.

The problem, said John Green, director of the Bliss Institute of Applied Politics at the University of Akron, is that many other states had the same strategy, known as “front-loading.”

Ten other states, including California and New York, will hold their primaries the same day, when a total of 1,151 delegates will be available. That’s more than half the total needed for a candidate to win the nomination.

“What has happened is that so many states are trying to crowd as close to the line as possible, and that has diluted the effect,” Green said. “National parties might try to play traffic cop, but states essentially do what they want.”

Iowa and New Hampshire are the first states by tradition, and so far, other states have respected their position, Green said. But even though all other dates are technically fair game, it is unlikely they will be taken because of the process’s complexity.

The result of the front-loading is that the race has been decided earlier than ever. Only two serious candidates are still active, and Massachusetts Senator John Kerry has already won 15 of the 17 contests to date.

One problem states face in scheduling presidential nominating contests is that in Ohio, as in many other states, the presidential primaries run concurrent with local campaigns.

“Ohio will probably never have primaries sooner than March 2,” Green said. “To have it any earlier would deny local candidates sufficient campaign time.”

Lois Enlow, director of the Portage County Board of Elections, said she thinks candidates would prefer longer campaigns.

“When you live in the North, it’s tough to run a campaign in the winter,” Enlow said. “These new dates make it even more difficult.”

Local candidates had to file petitions to run for office by Jan. 2, and they are not the only ones under increased pressure.

“We have just completed our work for the November elections,” Enlow said. “And now, we’re facing a host of new deadlines.”

The extra work may not be worth it. Despite the theory that pushing earlier elections will contribute to higher voter turn-out, Enlow said there has actually been a decrease in Portage County voter registration for the primaries since 2000.

“I don’t see any real great positive breakthroughs coming out of it,” Enlow said of the date shift. “I would like to see all states voting at the same time, and have it be totally fair, but that will never happen.”

Vernon Sykes, assistant professor of political science, believes the change is beneficial for Ohio.

“Part of it might be a state pride thing, but it absolutely makes a difference,” Sykes said. “In this election, because they haven’t yet chosen a presidential candidate, Ohio can still play a significant role.”

In the last general election, Sykes said only 7 to 9 percent of people living in the campus area voted.

“The majority of people don’t vote period,” he said. “We need to put emphasis on this primary election.”

Chris Shulz, junior electronic media productions major, a registered voter, hopes the March date will bring more Ohioans to the polls.

“If you don’t vote, then someone else is going to be making decisions for you,” Schulz said.

E-mail: rlmyers1@kent.edu