Tuesday’s election drew 10,000 more Clevelanders to the polls than the hotly contested mayoral race between Justin Bibb and Kevin Kelley two years ago. That election also included the passage of Issue 24, a grassroots ballot initiative which increased civilian oversight of police policies and discipline. This time around, voters defeated Issue 38, a ballot initiative that would have given city residents direct spending power over a small portion of the city budget. 

The turnout tallies from the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections are unofficial until eligible provisional ballots and mail-in ballots post marked before Election Day are counted. The board generally certifies the election results within about 10 days.

Explore Cleveland’s precinct level data below for registered voters and turnout.

Issues drive voter turnout

With reproductive rights and recreational marijuana on the ballot statewide, the Nov. 7 vote attracted far more attention than the typical off-year election. Unofficial turnout in Cleveland stood at nearly 29% – higher than past citywide elections, though well below Cuyahoga County’s 45% turnout. Three quarters of county voters cast ballots in favor of Issue 1, helping propel the constitutional amendment to a win. 

In the neighborhoods

Precinct-level data shows that voter turnout was uneven across the city, with voters showing up in large numbers in some neighborhoods and less so elsewhere. Neighborhoods on the edges of the city and the near West Side performed the strongest. 

Highs and lows of voter turnout

In the far West Side neighborhood of Kamm’s Corners, or Ward 17, almost 51% of registered voters cast ballots. Turnout was higher than 60% in some Ward 17 precincts. Near the city’s core in Ward 7, voting was scant in the precinct where the city’s largest men’s homeless shelter is located. Often people without stable housing use that address for their voter registration, even if they don’t stay there.