Ohio Early Vote Surpasses 2022 Midterm Total as Lines Stretch Past Closing

Early voting in Ohio ended on Sunday.

The state recorded 399,918 early ballots from its 8,956,209 registered voters. This figure already exceeds the total from the 2022 midterm election. Long lines formed at several county boards of elections across the state during the final weekend of the early voting period.

In Franklin County, voters waited through the day on Sunday. Demetria Peacher arrived at the polls around 10 a.m. after attending church. She joined a line that wrapped around the end of the building. Peacher waited about three hours to cast her ballot. She said the election mattered to her because of her work in the non-profit sector. She noted that current funding levels limit the organization's ability to help people meet basic needs.

Brad, a cancer patient who declined to share his last name, also voted early on Sunday. He cited health care concerns as a primary motivation. He stated that the current administration makes health care access intermittent, sometimes cutting off coverage during treatment. Brad and other voters said they supported candidates who promise to lower the cost of living. They described current costs as having ballooned out of control.

Okema Graham expressed fatigue with the current political climate. She cited negative publicity and aggressive rhetoric as reasons for her frustration. Graham said voters want a more positive political environment. She joined the queue despite the wait times.

Voters remained in line past 6 p.m. Sunday. This was more than an hour after polls closed. Election officials reported heavy turnout in other parts of the state as well. The early voting period concluded Sunday.

Polls will open at 6:30 a.m. on Tuesday. They will close at 7:30 p.m. Voters with unmailed absentee ballots must take them to their county board of elections before the closing time.