I can't ask you to do it if I don't do it myself, so on the first day of in-person early voting, I was at the board of elections office to cast my Issue 1 ballot. This is the sticker I received when I did. I was in and out in five minutes. Please make your voice heard and vote.

I made a promise six weeks ago in this column about how the team at cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer would work even harder to spread the word of the special Aug. 8 election and Issue 1, with an aim of overcoming the lack of awareness and interest that accompany August elections.

We already were all over Issue 1, but anxious readers had implored us to do more.

We’ve lived up to the promise, and the purpose of this column is to do what my 7-year-old grandson does when he’s trying to get someone’s attention and engage them: pat your arm and say, “Tag, you’re it.”

In other words, it’s your turn.

This column reaches a lot of people in Ohio. It also reaches former Ohioans across the country who read it because they want to keep in touch with their native state. Most everyone who reads it surely knows people in Ohio who are not yet aware of Issue 1. I’m asking you to make them aware.

We’re doing everything we can to spread the word. In stories on our website and in The Plain Dealer. On our Today in Ohio podcast. In our opinion forums. We’ve printed the mail-in ballot application repeatedly. We’ve concentrated Plain Dealer content on Sundays, which has our highest print circulation. We’ve made all Issue 1 content free for anyone to read without a subscription. 

But we can’t reach everyone. Ohio needs your help. Maybe you could identify one person in your circle who you suspect is unaware, and call them. Or text them. Or direct message them on social media. Most people, upon hearing about what Issue 1 would do to democracy, are energized to act. You can help energize them.

Our opinion forums have made clear our institutional opposition to Issue 1, so I won’t rehash it here. You can read all of our news stories and opinion pieces at https://www.cleveland.com/topic/2023-state-issue-1

The challenge is getting people to pay attention. The people behind Issue 1 put it on the ballot in August specially because people don’t pay attention in August. The originators are counting on low voter turnout to push it through.

You can help thwart that cynical effort. Talk to your friends. Talk to your families. 

We have been covering Issue 1 with vigor since its inception, and we will continue to cover it through the Aug. 8 election and beyond. We’ve run letters to the editor about it almost every day. We’ve published pieces about it from some of the most thoughtful experts in the state. The information is all there, available for anyone to read. Please help people find it. 

Early, in-person voting has begun. Absentee ballots are being mailed to those who requested them. And the polls will be open Aug. 8. 

The calendar is now the factor. Time is running out to make people aware.

Tag, you’re it.

I’m at cquinn@cleveland.com. 

Thanks for reading.