From OHIO STATE BAR ASSOCIATION
Judges make decisions every day that affect Ohioans’ families, businesses, communities, and constitutional rights. For some, judicial races can still be among the most overlooked contests on the ballot.
To help voters make informed choices in those races, the Ohio State Bar Association announced that judicialvotescount.org is now available for the Nov. 3 general election, providing Ohioans with one place to learn about the judicial candidates appearing on their ballots and the courts they are seeking to serve.
“Judicial elections matter, because the people we elect as judges make consequential decisions that touch nearly every aspect of our lives,” said Ohio Bar CEO Mary Amos Augsburger. “But voters often know far less about judicial candidates than candidates for other offices. Judicial Votes Count gives Ohioans a nonpartisan resource to learn about the candidates, understand the role of our courts, and make an informed choice when they cast their ballots.”
Judicial Votes Count is a nonpartisan voter education initiative administered by the Ohio Bar since 2022. Judicial candidates in all 88 Ohio counties were invited to complete profiles providing voters with information about their professional backgrounds, qualifications, and endorsements.
At judicialvotescount.org, voters can:
- Find information about judicial candidates appearing on the ballot in their county.
- Learn how Ohio’s court system works and the role judges play in interpreting and applying the law.
- Access important election dates and voting information.
Unlike candidates for other public offices, judicial candidates may be less familiar to voters, and voters may have fewer opportunities to learn about their qualifications before election day. Judicial Votes Count is designed to help close that information gap by bringing candidate profiles, court information, and election resources together in one location.
“Voting in a judicial race should be an informed decision, not a skipped line on the ballot,” Augsburger said. “We want Ohioans to know that information is available to help them understand who is seeking these important positions and why their vote matters.”
The initiative also advances the Ohio’s Bar commitment to judicial independence and public confidence in Ohio’s courts, recently reaffirmed through a resolution adopted by its board of governors.
With the support of a grant from the Ohio State Bar Foundation, the Ohio Bar will sponsor a statewide social media advertising campaign to encourage Ohioans to learn about their judicial candidates and cast their votes by Nov. 3.
Members of the public can follow the Ohio Bar on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram for regular updates.
