How to Choose the Green Party Ballot & Write-In Vote

The only way* to become a registered member of a recognized political party in Ohio is to vote in a partisan primary and select that party's ballot. We're all so used to the duopoly that we forget this aspect of politics. I met one of our members while collecting signatures and I asked her how she happened to pick up a Green Party ballot. She said she went to her polling place and when the poll worker asked her if she wanted a Democrat or Republican ballot, she said in frustration: "what else is there?" and for the first time there was another choice!

Now our challenge is to make more and more people, who are justifiably frustrated, aware that there is a party on the ballot in Ohio that speaks for them. Voting on the Green ballot helps build our party. Since the Secretary of State and the various County Boards of Election are now tasked with keeping a record of our membership, it is much easier to keep in touch with and inform our members as well as run candidates who need the signatures of Green Party members on their petitions. The more members we have the more legitimate we will be in the eyes of the law and in public opinion, the more influence we will gain and the more we can change politics to serve the best interests of the people.

Tell all your friends and family that you are voting Green. Encourage them to do the same. Tell them how important it is to make sure they write-in one of our Senate Candidates Joseph DeMare of Anita Rios. Everyone in the state can do this! It is your ticket to Green Party membership.

Make sure you have a ballot that says Green Party. Don't settle for anything less. Be polite and firm if there is a problem, and insist that the correct ballot be produced. There will be a line on your ballot that says WRITE-IN, and there will be a place to darken an oval. You must both darken the oval and write in the name "Joseph Rosario DeMare" or "Anita Rios" on the line. If you use an electronic ballot you mark the X and use the keyboard to completely write in the candidate's name. Write it down beforehand and take it with you to the polls. Ballots will be different from county to county. Some of you will have more than one candidate to vote for since we have Congressional and State Committee candidates as well in some areas. Please cast a vote for them even if there is only one candidate running. Any other issues relevant to your locality will be on your ballot as well.

Those of you who cast this Green ballot will be the membership of the Green Party until the next partisan primary (at which time you would again have to reaffirm your party allegiance). This entitles you to vote on any proposals and/or nominations of candidates at the conventions, to be State or County Committee members, and to truly have the right to complain about what the Green Party is or isn't doing. From our Constitution and Bylaws: "The highest decision-making body of the GPOHIO is the part of the Ohio electorate that votes in the Green Party primary.”

On March 6, take your place in that body by voting Green!

*Actually, one other way is possible: becoming a candidate and declaring your party as Green on your "Declaration of Intent" petition. We encourage this method as well!