Franklin County voters began to cast early ballots Tuesday morning. More people headed to the polls on the first day of early voting compared to four years ago. Near the end of the first day of early voting, the number of people who cast an in-person ballot was up by 65 percent compared to the last governors race, according to Franklin County Board of Elections figures provided to WOSU at 4:38 p.m. Tuesday. Several people told us they voted early because theyd be out of town on Election Day like Mary Daggett, of Blacklick. Im going to be in Florida very soon for the warm weather," Daggett said. "And I feel its important to get out and support the candidates I feel will do a good job taking care of Ohio.
Others, like Robert Baxtresser, of German Village, said they wanted to get it out of the way and make it easier for other voters in November. So its good on the whole process for people to vote earlier and spread the work out. That way you reduce the lines and its better," Baxstresser said.
Absentee ballots requests are down about 38 percent so far this year compared to 2010. Days and times of early voting can be found at the Franklin County Board of Election website. In an earlier report, we reported figures from noon which showed a decline in in-person absentee voting. "By lunchtime, on the first day of in-person early voting, the number of people who cast a ballot was down 40 percent compared to the last governors race, according to Franklin County Board of Elections figures." These figures changed during the day."