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Today’s newsletter is 1,071 words — a 4-minute read.

The Nov. 3 general election is one week away, so here's what to know about your local ballot.

🗳️ How to vote

Early in-person voting continues through Sunday.

• Schedule and where to go.
• Absentee ballots (by mail or drop off) must be received by your board of election by 7:30pm Nov. 3.

Election Day voting is 6:30am-7:30pm Nov. 3.

• Voters must bring a valid photo ID.
• Find your polling place … what's on your ballot.

👀 Governor's race

This fiercely contested showdown features Republican entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and Democrat Amy Acton, the state's former health director.

Why it matters: The election will determine whether Ohio continues its run of Republican leadership or elects a Democrat for the first time since Ted Strickland in 2006.

Friction point: The race has received national attention for a controversial Ramaswamy ad involving Acton's estranged mother, which has received bipartisan backlash.

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📢 Senate race

Republican Sen. Jon Husted seeks to fend off former Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown in a race with big implications and huge amounts of money being spent on campaign ads.

Why it matters: The race may determine control of the Senate. A good showing from Brown could return Ohio to swing-state status in 2028.

State of play: Data center opposition and transgender rights are issues that have defined the race, which is considered to be a toss-up.

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🌰 Other statewide offices

Ohio voters will also choose who oversees state elections, finances, law enforcement and the state's highest court.

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💵 Countywide issues

Cuyahoga County voters will face five countrywide ballot issues with big implications for the county's finances and operations.

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🔎 Local races

7th Congressional District: Rep. Max Miller (R-Ohio) is running for reelection against Democratic challenger Brian Poindexter, an ironworker and former Brook Park council member.

• Miller has rejected calls to resign and drop out of the race, publicly denying allegations he abused his ex-wife and their young daughter.

County Council: Six seats (Districts 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11) are up for grabs this year.

• An interesting race is unfolding in District 5, where Democrat Courtney Scheff is trying to oust Republican incumbent Michael Gallagher.
• Scheff is backed by County Executive Chris Ronayne. Gallagher has long butted heads with Ronayne and is the last remaining Republican on the body.

Ohio voters have just one statewide ballot issue on the Nov. 3 election, and it's a mouthful.

Why it matters: Issue 3, a proposed constitutional amendment concerning voter identification, features some of the lengthiest ballot language in the country for voters to decipher.

By the numbers: The ballot title for Issue 3 clocks in at 200 words, according to a new Ballotpedia study of 164 statewide measures across 40 states.

• That's more than twice the national average of 81 words.

Zoom in: Ohio already requires photo ID for in-person voting. Issue 3 would enshrine that requirement in the state constitution, making it harder to repeal.

• Republican supporters say it would strengthen election security. Democratic opponents argue existing safeguards are sufficient and warn against restricting voting rights.
• The language for Issue 3 is written at a 13th-grade reading level, per Ballotpedia, roughly the equivalent of a college freshman.

Yes, but: Ohio voters actually have it easier than those in many other states.

• The national average for ballot measure titles is a 17th-grade reading level, while Colorado's ballot question titles average a staggering 33rd-grade level.

Flashback: Ohio is no stranger to lengthy ballot titles.

• A 2024 redistricting amendment featured a whopping 940-word ballot title, the longest Ballotpedia had documented since it began tracking readability in 2017.

🏟️ The North Coast Waterfront Development Corp. released its vision Monday for the Cleveland lakefront without Browns stadium.

• It features a grid of streets lined with residences, offices and shops, and includes a central park where the stadium now resides. (Cleveland.com)

✏️ The CMSD school board is likely to vote this evening on renewing its controversial contract with Flock Safety. (Signal Cleveland)

• The other side: The local Flock No Cle campaign notes in a statement that, per a CMSD presentation, it would cost less than $350,000 to replace the Flock cameras, "a one-time installation cost that is just sixty percent of the District's annual Flock contract."

🚢 The Port of Cleveland welcomed its 54th and final cruise ship of the 2026 season Sunday, surpassing the previous record of 53 in 2025. (WKYC)

🍻 Joe Kahn, the founder of Condado Tacos, has purchased Edison's Bar in Tremont. Kahn plans to keep the Edison's brand alive and has "lots of thoughts" for the slice shop next door. (Cleveland Scene)

Democracy has its perks, such as that little sticker to show off your civic pride.

Zoom in: Ohio's limited-edition sticker this year features an America 250 design to commemorate the United States' 250th birthday and, per Secretary of State Frank LaRose, "Ohio's role in preserving and strengthening American democracy."

1 odd sticker: Colorado's sticker features a grinning mustang with a glowing red eye — giving off serious demon horse vibes — rearing up against a mountain backdrop.

1 fun sticker: Meanwhile, Louisiana's colorful design brings a little Mardi Gras flair to the ballot box.

Our Browns caption contest has been a big hit in recent years.

• That's because the Browns usually stink!

State of play: Not this year. The caption contest is built around humor, but the Browns are no joke so far this season.

What they said: This week's caption contest winner isn't a reader — it's a kid from Akron.

• "🐶 🐶 LFG!!," LeBron James posted to social media following Cleveland's win.

🤷 It's hard to top that!

Editor's note: Yesterday's newsletter was corrected to show, as many of you pointed out, that the Browns are 5-2 (not 6-2).

• Perhaps we got a little overexcited.
  

👔 Sam is coming to you live from Axios HQ in Arlington, Va., and is having the time of his life in a physical office!

😮 Troy is watching horror movie "The Cycle" on Shudder to see if the the plot twist is as good as everyone says it is.

This newsletter was edited by Tyler Buchanan.