As Election Day – Nov. 5 – nears, Bishop Edward Malesic is reminding the faithful in the eight-county Catholic Diocese of Cleveland that in the Catholic tradition of responsible citizenship, we are morally obligated to participate in political life and to make choices based on “a properly formed conscience, voting for the candidates who best support the moral teachings of our Catholic faith.”
As people prepare to cast their ballots, the bishop encourages them to “pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit and educate yourself on the candidates’ positions on the critical issues that will affect us all, both now and in the future.”
The bishop released a letter offering guidance and resources for the upcoming election. Read the entire letter here.
Additional Faithful Citizenship resources for voters include a link to the Catholic Conference of Ohio’s election issues page, the Faithful Citizenship page prepared by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, the USCCB’s “Civilize It” page offering resources for a “better kind of politics” and a novena from the USCCB for Faithful Citizenship.
Absentee voting by mail in Ohio began on Oct. 8. Military and overseas absentee voting started on Sept. 20.
Early in-person voting, which also began Oct. 8 at all local boards of elections, includes the two Saturdays (Oct. 26 and Nov. 2) and two Sundays (Oct. 27 and Nov. 3) before Election Day.
In-person voting on Election Day will take place from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
If not returned by mail, absentee ballots must be received by your local board of elections by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day.
For more detailed information on the election, including ballot language for issues and a sample ballot, visit your local board of elections website or the Ohio secretary of state’s website.