Ohio’s May primary will be the first time Clevelanders can vote in their newly created wards and precincts.

Voters can learn about the new ward boundaries, state and local issues, pick up vote-by-mail applications and find out about employment opportunities as the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections hosts its Library Voter Education Campaign.

The May 6 primary election is countywide, featuring State Issue 2, local issues and candidate contests in Oakwood Village and Berea. To vote in this primary, be registered. The deadline to register is April 7. (If you’re not sure if you’re registered, you can check here.)

In January, Cleveland City Council approved a redistricting plan that cut two council seats and redrew ward boundaries across the city.

In a statement, board officials said the voter education events are an opportunity for Cleveland residents to learn about their new political boundaries. 

“Voting in May will help voters become familiar with the new wards and to get ready for the September primary election for Cleveland mayor and city council,” said Anthony Perlatti, Director of the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections. 

Mayor Justin Bibb is working on his reelection bid. He started the year with more than $600,000 available to spend on his reelection campaign.

LaVerne Gore announced her plans to challenge Mayor Bibb in December.

Cleveland City Council president Blaine Griffin is conducting a poll that asks residents whom they’d pick in a mayoral race among Griffin, Bibb and former state Sen. Nina Turner.

At least seven people have confirmed to Signal Cleveland that they plan to run for city council. The filing deadline for candidates is June 11. The mayoral and city council primaries are scheduled for Sept. 9.

Where to learn more about Ohio’s May primary

Board of Elections staff will continue their education campaign through April 3. Find a list of the next events below – all times are 12:30 pm to 3:30 pm: 

• Carnegie West Branch, 1900 Fulton Road, Cleveland, April 1 

• South Branch, 3096 Scranton Road, Cleveland, April 1 

• South Brooklyn Branch, 4303 Pearl Road, Cleveland, April 1 

• Woodland Branch, 5906 Woodland Avenue, Cleveland, April 2 

• Union Branch, 3463 E. 93rd St., Cleveland, April 2 

• Martin Luther King, Jr., Branch, 1962 Stokes Blvd., Cleveland, April 2 

• Hough Branch, 6530 Lexington Ave., Cleveland, April 3 

• Harvard-Lee Branch, 16918 Harvard Ave., Cleveland, April 3 

• Rice Branch, 11535 Shaker Blvd., Cleveland, April 3