It's Election Day ... again

If you're not sweating out today's election results, you'll at least be sweating while casting a ballot.

• Today's high is over 20 degrees warmer than the average Statehouse Election Day temp since 2010.

Driving the news: The weather helps showcase the unusual nature of today's special primary for the state legislature.

• Ohio is spending $20 million to hold this election because redistricting tomfoolery kept Statehouse races off the earlier primary election in May.

What to know: Polls are open between 6:30am-7:30pm.

• Find your polling place.
• Check your new Ohio House of Representatives and Senate districts.

Be smart: Many of today's races are uncontested. Viewing your sample ballot might save you a trip.

• That is, unless you really want an "I Voted" sticker.

What we're watching: Here are the stakes for today's election and some political storylines worth keeping an eye on:

⬇ Turnout will likely be abysmal. There's a reason important elections are not typically held in the summer — Ohioans are busy enjoying well-earned vacations, gobbling fair food and gearing up for school.

• The recent low-water mark for primary election turnout was 17% in 2014. It's possible today's will be lower.

🤢 Bad maps get a shot. The districts on today's ballot were illegally drawn by Republican mapmakers to benefit GOP candidates, the state Supreme Court twice ruled.

• Nevertheless, federal judges imposed these unconstitutional maps on voters.
• They're only supposed to be used in 2022. A redistricting commission is still tasked with drawing fair maps for 2024 and beyond.

🐘 Will Democrats cut into GOP supermajorities? Republicans currently hold 75% of Senate and 65% of House seats, enough to pass legislation without any Democratic support and override vetoes from the governor.

• Lawmakers have taken advantage: They limited health departments' authority to mitigate future pandemics despite Gov. Mike DeWine's objections.
• We'll know the next term's party breakdown after the November election, but today's results will give us a clue.