Franklin County in-person early voting numbers hit record
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The November general election is on Tuesday and there is very little time left to vote early.
“This in-person voting here at the board of elections will be a record,” said Aaron Sellers, Public Information Officer at the Franklin County Board of Elections.
According to Sellers, the 2020 election had 117,356 early in-person voters. That number was already surpassed this year with one day left of early voting. On Saturday, a line began forming around 6:30 a.m before the polls opened up at 8 a.m.
“It’s exciting on the actual day but I thought I’d do it a couple of days ahead, make sure I get in there, nothing happens,” said Kim Wall, an early voter. More than 2 million Ohioans have submitted their ballots so far. According to the Ohio Secretary of State’s website, 59% of early voters came in-person. The rest submitted absentee ballots. The long lines didn’t deter many from coming out to vote.
“It was a very smooth process. We were inside in probably 45 minutes, started right at 8, 10 minutes out and I was done,” said Wall. Sellers said they came into election season prepared for record turnout.
“We’ve expanded our footprint here at the board. We added more voting machines. We have an indoor queuing area,” he said. These upgrades didn’t go unnoticed by voters.
“Because of the expansion they have here it was pretty painless. They directed you every step of the way,” said Alan Dale Jr., an early voter. If you still have to vote, make sure to bring a valid photo I.D. and you cannot wear candidate or party gear. Sellers said each election they have their fair share of people wearing it.
“We’ve got people throughout the lines. If we see something political, like a name, we ask them to take the hat off or turn a shirt inside out,” he said. The last day of early voting is Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Polls are then closed on Monday before voters must go to their ballot locations on Election Day. Those will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.