This is a developing story that will be updated with information throughout the day.
Once again, voters are out at the polls bright and early at one of three voting locations in Oxford: the Marcum Hotel and Conference Center, Talawanda High School and Kramer Elementary School.
On the local ballot, voters will find Oxford City Council candidates, trustees in four different townships and board of education members for the Talawanda City School District up for election. There will also be three proposed tax levies to vote on.
Follow The Miami Student for regular updates on how Miami Students and Oxford residents are voting at the polls throughout the day.
8 a.m.
As the sun rose over Talawanda High School, Oxford community members and Miami University professors trickled in and out of the parking lot, hoping to get their vote cast early before heading to work today.
Enjoy what you're reading?
Signup for our newsletter
Oxford resident Bill Gibbons arrived at the polls nearly an hour and a half after they opened, and he said he turns out for local elections because the political process needs to be supported on the local level.
“I mean, even these smaller elections where it doesn't seem like it makes much of a difference … we've still got political positions up for office, and we need to fill those positions,” Gibbons said.
He said he didn’t turn out to vote for any particular candidate or issue, but instead said he values local politics as a whole.
Jan Ames and her husband, Roger Ames, said they vote in every election, no matter if it involves local, state or national candidates.
“We always vote, always, always,” Jan said. “I've only missed one time, and that's when I was in the hospital having my first child.”
Jan said local elections are important because they determine who is elected up the ticket, all the way up to the national level. Roger used John Boehner, former Speaker of the House, as an example of the importance of local politics
“He started out just as a trustee in West Chester, [Ohio],” Roger said. “... He ended up being Speaker.”
Campaign signs lined the sidewalk leading up to Talawanda High School's entrance on Nov. 4, flagging to voters that it is a polling location for Oxford residents.
Glenn Ellerbe, Oxford Board of Trustees member and city council candidate, arrived at Talawanda just before 8:30 a.m.
“I came to cast my vote for the City of Oxford,” he said. “Hopefully, the citizens of Oxford [have seen] the things that I plan on doing and that they agree with it and vote accordingly.”
On top of voting to support his own candidacy, Ellerbe said he came out to vote for Issue 1 in support of the Butler County Elderly Services.
“We have a lot of turmoil going on with social services right now,” Ellerbe said. “The way I look at social services is here in America, we have developed programs to help people either become or maintain productive members of society … and recently, there have been changes to those programs that tend to help the upper echelon of our society, and you have situations where they are vilifying [these] programs.”
The morning rush continued to surge at the polls, as more Oxford residents hoped to cast their ballots before the work day began.
Reporting by Editor-in-Chief Olivia Patel.
9 a.m.
Outside the Marcum Hotel polling location, a slow trickle of voters pulled into the parking lot. On the grass outside the hotel, staff and student ambassadors from the Wilks Institute for Leadership set up tables for their annual “Party at the Polls” celebration. They offered coffee, donuts and other snacks for voters as they exited the polls.
Student ambassadors helped set up for the "Party at the Polls" celebration.
Alexis Gomes, assistant director at the Wilks Institute, worked to provide resources like voter registration, absentee ballot information and helped organize this year’s event.
“Really, it’s just to celebrate civic engagement, boost morale and make voting as enjoyable as possible for students,” Gomes said.
Judy Ramsey, who has lived in Oxford her whole life, said she has voted in all the Oxford elections since she was eligible.
“I want my opinion heard,” Ramsey said. “I don’t have a right to complain about anything if I don’t bother to vote.”
Katherine Bachelor, professor of English education at Miami University, said she was particularly interested in the city council election and wanted to have a solid city council that she felt backed her interests.
“I think even in off-election years, we should still get out and vote,” Bachelor said. “It’s very important, especially now.”
Reporting by Asst. Campus & Community Editor Shannon Mahoney
10 a.m.
It’s the third hour since the polls opened on election day and Oxford residents are slowly but surely finding time to cast their ballots in the Nov. 4 local election.
Outside, tucked near the entrance of the Marcum loop trail, voters arriving at the Marcum Hotel are greeted by a series of endorsements lined along the walkways and a few welcoming faces from the Wilks Institute for Leadership, handing out refreshments and sweets.
While many voters feel drawn to some of the specific issues on the ballot such as issue 1, a levy regarding funds surrounding senior citizens services, other residents show up to the polls out of personal obligation.
Keith Hess an Oxford resident and consistent voter said he believed voting and exercising one’s civic responsibilities is a privilege.
“I believe it’s my duty,” he said.
Reporting by Social Media Editor Kiser Young
Noon
As we enter the afternoon of the election day, a handful of Oxford residents and Miami University students come and go from the Marcum Hotel.
“There wasn't really a line,” sophomore data science and statistics major Isaac Wanko said. “I remember I was here last year, which was also the presidential election year, and that was a lot busier.”
Still, students discussed the importance of voting even in off-year elections.
“I've just always felt [personal] civic duties, and exercising [your] right to vote is very important for our country,” Wanko said.
The Marcum Hotel and Conference Center dwindled in voters once noon rolled around.
Caitlyn Wetstein, a graduate student in student affairs in higher education at Miami, said she has tried to vote every year since she became eligible.
“I don't think there's anything against absentee, but it's just different to vote in person, like the feeling is too,” Wetstein said. “And so just going and being able to engage in like your governance in civic engagement is really exciting.”
One particularly contentious race this year is the school board. As an alumnus of the Talawanda School District, Wanko was particularly interested in that race.
“One of the nominees I know a few years ago was going around and photographing teachers [who] had Pride flags outside their window, and [was saying] parents should go after those teachers. So that's, you know, very contentious to me.”
Despite the controversy, for many students, the school board doesn't affect them.
“City council is a little bit more [important to me] just with the relationship, [between] … the University and Oxford city,” Wetstein said.
Reporting by Staff Writer Abe Hagood.
Follow The Miami Student for regular updates on how Miami Students and Oxford residents are voting at the polls throughout the day.
Read More
Meet the candidates running for Oxford City Council this fall
By Olivia Patel | YesterdayOxford City Council could have a turnover of four out of its seven members with the election fast approaching this fall. Only two incumbents are fighting for another term in their seats. Councilor David Prytherch and Vice-Mayor Chantel Raghu are termed out, leaving two guaranteed spots for new council members.
Pedestrian accidents remain a persistent issue for Miami students
By Kiernan Pfennig | 2 days agoDespite safety measures, vehicle-pedestrian collisions continue to occur in Oxford.