Make Your Voice Heard: Voting and Early Voting in Cleveland’s 2025 Election
In 2025, Cleveland voters have a unique opportunity: for the first time in more than 30 years, Ward 7 will elect a new representative to City Council. No incumbent office holder, no appointee. Mohammad Faraj, a lifelong Northeast Ohio resident and first-time candidate, is asking residents to take that moment seriously.
He says the election isn’t just about who wins. It’s about who participates.
“I’ve spent my entire life feeling unheard and unrepresented. As the saying goes, ‘If you’re not at the table, then you’re on the menu,’ and this is a reality many of our neighbors fear as the world, country, and state feel increasingly less stable.”
Faraj describes his call-to-action as being based on the shared need for all residents to feel heard, seen, and valued: “The residents of this thriving ward want a council representative who is going to listen to their problems rather than sell them a solution.” Faraj continues, “Before fixing something, you must first understand the problem.”
Cleveland’s city council shapes decisions on:
Housing enforcement
Public safety
Neighborhood funding
Infrastructure and transit
Local laws that affect everyday life
The reasons why Mohammad frequently highlights the importance of voter access, registration deadlines, and early voting opportunities in his outreach are because he knows firsthand the difficulty the community can face trying to vote.
“It was a punch-to-the-gut to show up to my former polling location last November to be told my vote would be marked provisional. Especially because in March 2024, I was very proud to cast a vote for a local candidate here in Cuyahoga that I felt was actually interested in listening to voters and not trying to avoid difficult conversations.
He believes that when people are informed about how to vote, encouraged to stay registered to vote, and feel a connection to the people they can vote for they’re more likely to do it — and more likely to expect results from those in office.
Mohammad believes local government should be a space where problems are identified, residents are empowered, and leadership translates into tangible improvements in the daily lives of our taxpayers. He encourages every resident to take advantage of this Voter Checklist covering how you register to vote
The Board of Elections will mail you a confirmation of your registration that includes your polling location address.
Make Your Plan: Vote Early or On Election Day?
Voting Early happens only at the Board of Elections
Schedule for In-Person Early Voting at the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections (1803 Superior Ave)
You can only vote at the polling location for your precinct
Why Local Elections Matter More Than You Think
Clevelanders often face challenges that go beyond national headlines — from unlit streets to unresponsive landlords. The city’s 2025 election offers a rare chance to elect someone new, someone rooted in the ward, and someone who knows what it feels like to be ignored by the system.
Mohammad’s campaign calls attention not just to issues, but to the process of change itself, and that process starts with casting a ballot.