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If you're a �Ը������� University student planning to vote next week, you may already know which candidate you favor for governor or the U.S. Senate. But have you looked at the rest of your ballot?

On Nov. 3, Ohio voters will choose a statewide leader, a member of Congress and state legislators. In Portage County, voters will also decide county races, including contests for county auditor and county commissioner, along with judicial seats and local ballot issues that vary by voting location. provides an official sample ballot for each precinct.

While some of those races may not receive the same attention as the contest for governor or a member of the U.S. Senate, they deserve a look. The people elected to county and state offices make decisions about public spending, courts, education and public services. Those decisions can affect students while they're at �Ը������� and long after they graduate.

“Some of the decisions that most directly affect our daily lives are made by people whose names appear further down the ballot,” said Craig Berger, associate director of civic and community engagement at �Ը�������. “When students understand the responsibilities of those offices and how those decisions affect them, voting becomes more than a civic obligation. It becomes an opportunity to help shape the communities to which they belong.”

The Races Voters Leave Blank

The tendency to vote in high-profile races while skipping those further down the ballot is known as ballot rolloff. It can leave local contests with fewer votes cast than the races at the top of the same ballot.

A �Ը������� Votes analysis of the 2024 election found that voters in a Kent precinct dominated by students left local races blank at approximately twice the rate of other voters in Portage County.

That finding raises an important question: Are students skipping those races because they don't know enough about the candidates, aren't familiar with the offices or simply run out of time to research them?

Consider some of the offices on the November ballot.

• Ohio governor: The governor helps set the state's priorities and signs or vetoes legislation passed by the General Assembly. State policy can affect higher education, financial aid and other issues relevant to college students.
• Ohio General Assembly: State representatives and senators debate and pass laws and approve the state budget. Their decisions can influence university funding, education policy and services available to Ohio residents.
• Portage County commissioner: County commissioners help oversee county finances, services and priorities. Their decisions affect how county government responds to residents' needs.
• Portage County auditor: The county auditor has responsibilities involving property valuation, financial records and other county fiscal matters. Those responsibilities can affect property owners and local government finances.
• Judges: Judges decide cases under the law and their rulings can have lasting consequences for individuals and families.

The candidates and issues on a student's ballot will depend on where that student is registered. Students who vote in their hometowns may see different county offices, legislative districts or local issues than students who vote in Kent.

You can review the or use the to learn more about the races on your ballot.

Skipping a race leaves that decision to the voters who do cast a ballot. Researching a candidate and making a choice gives you a say in who holds that office.

You Don't Have to Be a Political Expert

One reason voters may skip unfamiliar races is that they don't know enough about the candidates or the responsibilities of the offices those candidates are seeking. That uncertainty can be particularly challenging for students voting for the first time.

“At �Ը������� Votes, we're not simply interested in whether students cast a ballot. We're interested in whether they feel informed, confident and empowered to participate in decisions that shape their communities,” Berger said. “‘Don't Stop at the Top’ is about helping students recognize that their voices matter in every election, not just the races that dominate the headlines.”

Students can take a few steps to prepare for Tuesday's election:

• Check your ballot now. Review every office and ballot issue before Election Day so you know what you'll be asked to decide.
• Learn what each office does. Understanding an office's responsibilities can help you identify the issues that matter most to you.
• Research the candidates. Read about their experience, qualifications and stated positions. For judicial races, look for information about their legal backgrounds and approach to the role.
• Understand ballot issues. Look for a clear explanation of what a proposed measure would do and how a yes or no vote would affect the outcome.
• Use reliable sources. Official election websites and nonpartisan voter guides can help you sort through unfamiliar names and issues.

You don't have to know everything about every candidate to cast an informed ballot. Taking time to understand the choices in front of you is a good place to start.

�Ը������� Votes' Don't Stop at the Top initiative offers resources to help students research candidates and understand the full ballot.

Voting Doesn't End With a Presidential Election

For Berger, the value of informed voting extends beyond a single election. College is a time when students begin to define their relationships with their communities and consider how they can contribute to the places where they live.

Those connections can give students a reason to pay attention to elections even when the presidency isn't on the ballot. Local and state races take place on different schedules, and the people elected in those contests make decisions that continue long after campaign signs come down.

“We want students to recognize that voting isn't simply something you do every two or four years in response to a national election,” Berger said. “It's one of the ways we exercise agency over the future of the places we call home.”

For �Ը������� students, that future might be in Portage County, back in their hometowns or somewhere they haven't lived yet. Wherever they settle, elected officials will make decisions about the communities in which they live, work and raise families.

Before casting a ballot, students can ask themselves one simple question: Have I considered every race, or have I stopped at the names I recognize?

A few extra minutes spent researching unfamiliar candidates can help students make informed choices about who represents them and how public decisions are made.

To learn more, visit �Ը������� Votes' Don't Stop at the Top initiative and review your ballot before Election Day.