Cuyahoga County Opens Absentee Voting April 7 | The Locally Times
Absentee voting for the May 5 primary begins April 7, with Avon Lake voters to decide on a proposed $6.6 million tax increase.
According to a notice from the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections, absentee voting for the May 5, 2026, Primary Election will begin on Tuesday, April 7. This makes both Vote-by-Mail and Early In-Person voting options available to registered voters following the April 6 registration deadline. On the first day, voting will be open from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. ## Avon Lake to Decide on $6.6 Million Tax Increase One key issue on the May 5 ballot is a proposed municipal income tax increase in the City of Avon Lake. According to a city agenda, the measure would add 0.4% to the municipal income tax, adjusting the rate from 1.5% to 1.9% for a five-year period. City documents state the proposed increase is projected to generate $6.6 million in revenue over five years. The city has designated these funds for road and capital improvement needs, but public announcements do not yet contain a specific list of the projects that would be funded. ## Other Civic Business Scheduled Around Primary The primary election period coincides with other scheduled public business. The City of Solon has announced it will host a Job Fair on May 7, two days after the primary. In the week following the election, the Willoughby-Eastlake City Schools Board of Education is scheduled for a regular meeting on May 11, and the City of Willowick has posted agendas for a Planning Commission meeting on May 11 and a City Council meeting on May 19. ## Full Voting Schedule, Ballot Details Not Yet Released While the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections announcement confirms the April 7 start date, records do not yet provide a full schedule of dates, hours, or locations for early in-person voting through the entire election period. The process for requesting a Vote-by-Mail ballot is also not detailed in the initial notice. Furthermore, a comprehensive list of all candidates and ballot measures for the May 5 primary is not yet available from the Board of Elections.