MOUNT VERNON – On Thursday, Oct. 6, at 7 p.m. the Public Library of Mount Vernon and Knox County will present a panel discussion with the Knox County Board of Elections staff on "How Elections Work in Knox County."
This event will be held at Knox Memorial Building, Veterans Hall (2nd floor), at 112 E. High St., Mount Vernon. As with all library events, this program is free and open to the public; however, advance registration is required. Registration is open at https://bit.ly/3cGdikA through 5pm on Thursday. October 6th.
“How Elections Work in Knox County'' is a nonpartisan, informational event about the administrative and security processes local BOE staff use to administer elections. Topics include safeguards that ensure free and fair elections; how votes are counted; and the role of precinct election officials, volunteers and how citizens can get involved. Panelists are Knox County BOE Director Peggy Hockenberry; Deputy Director Scott Howard; BOE Education and Outreach Coordinator Michelle Laslo; Board of Elections Chairman Jeff Gottke and Board Member Adam Gilson. The event will close with an audience Q & A.
“The Knox County Board of Elections is excited to partner with the Public Library of Mount Vernon on such a worthwhile event,” said Laslo. “There is so much misinformation regarding elections and voting, circulating among the public. We welcome the opportunity to share factual information about elections in Knox County in this nonpartisan format.”
Library Director John Chidester said, “Nonpartisan appeals for voter participation in the electoral process are the kind of thing we're all about."
The American Library Association has long led the way in engaging voters by providing voter registration forms at public libraries and encouraging local libraries to participate in voter registration days and other civic events to improve voter turnout in elections. More information about the role of libraries in voter engagement is available at https://www.ala.org/advocacy/voter-engagement.
Voters are encouraged to keep the following dates in mind as the November 2022 midterm elections approach.
Precinct Election Official (PEO)
People who are age 17 (and a high school senior) and older who meet eligibility requirements and wish to serve as a precinct election official or volunteer on Election Day may contact Laslo at the Knox County Board of Elections, michellelaslo@boe.knoxcounty.oh.gov/, 740-393-6716, or visit https://pollworkertracker.ohiosos.gov/signup. PEO’s must complete training by Oct. 28.
Voter registration deadline
Ohio’s voter registration deadline is Tuesday, Oct. 11.
Voters can confirm their registration at: https://boe.knoxcounty.oh.gov/am-i-registered/.
The Knox County Board of Elections will be open on Tuesday, Oct. 11, from 8 a.m. until 9 p.m. for voter registration for the November General Election or you can register online at voteohio.gov.
Absentee ballots
Voters must request an absentee ballot by Saturday, Nov. 5, at noon.
Return ballots must be postmarked by Monday, Nov. 7, and can be personally dropped off at the Knox County Board of Elections no later than 7:30 p.m. on Election Day.
Early voting
Early voting begins on Wednesday, Oct. 12, at the Knox County Board of Elections, 104 East Sugar St., Mount Vernon, OH 43050. Applications for absentee ballots are currently being accepted and voters may also drop off completed absentee ballots during early voting.
Election Day
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 8. Polls are open from 6:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m. Voters can confirm their polling location at https://www.ohiosos.gov/elections/voters/toolkit/polling-location/.
Voter registration forms are available at the Knox County Board of Elections office, and at all Public Library of Mount Vernon and Knox County locations. For more information about voting in Knox County, please visit https://boe.knoxcounty.oh.gov/. For more information about the Oct. 6 program, visit www.knox.net, email knoxwrites1@gmail.com, or call 740-392-2665, Ext. 259.
