Charlie Stewart voted Tuesday morning at Dodge Park Recreation Center in Franklinton.
They were excited to support all five of Columbus' bond issues, and to vote for a few specific candidates, but mostly, they wanted to get out and express their voice. They said they hoped others would do the same.
"Maybe you don't have a candidate that really speaks to you or that really, you know, makes your heart beat faster, but that doesn't mean that the issues that are important to you aren't represented in some way or another," Stewart said.
Steven Dade also voted at Dodge Park Recreation Center. He said he wasn't as prepared for this election as usual, and wasn't emphatic about any candidates or issues.
"I try to vote every election. I didn't used to, but, you know, as things have changed in the country, I've felt like I really need to get out every election," Dade said.
Stewart and Dade are both members of the LGBTQ community and voted for Columbus City Council District 7 candidate Jesse Vogel over his opponent, Tiara Ross.
"I know that he's really passionate about marginalized and vulnerable communities and making sure that they're safe and protected. (He's) also a member of the LGBTQ community. I'm really happy that he has run and I'm hoping that he had a successful campaign," Stewart said.
Tiara Suggs voted for Ross. She said she liked what Ross had to say and that she seemed genuine. Plus, they want to high school together.
While Suggs may have chosen a different candidate than Stewart and Dade, she felt the same about the importance of voting.
"I hate to use the old adage of like, 'if you didn't vote, you don't get to talk crap about anything,' but it's kind of true. If you're not at least trying to make a difference, then it's harder to complain about anything," Suggs said.
To those who didn't turn out Tuesday, Suggs asked, "Where are you?"
"I try to vote every election. I didn't used to, but, you know, as things have changed in the country, I've felt like I really need to get out every election."- Steven Dade of Franklinton
Officials anticipate low turnout
Officials at the Franklin County Board of Elections estimated that turnout would be much lower than the 46% who voted in 2023, when statewide issues on legalizing marijuana and abortion were on the ballot.
As of noon Tuesday, 111,000 ballots had been cast at the nearly 300 polling locations in Franklin County. That's about 12% of the county's voters.
Officials anticipated that overall turnout would be just 20%.
"You know, TV can be played at any time now, you know, life can slow down for a lot of us," Suggs said. "I think a lot of jobs are even letting people take the time off of work to go do it. So, don't just go eat a burrito, like actually go just vote."
Other issues
In addition to the one contested Columbus City Council race, voters in the city will decide which three of six Columbus City Schools' board candidates make the cut.
Erin Norris voted at Maize Manor United Methodist Church on the north side. She has a daughter who attends Columbus City Schools.
"I was really interested in the number of people this year who had kids that were in the Columbus City School system just because I think that it makes them more of a stakeholder in this," Norris said.
She says there were no bad candidates, but she voted for Antoinette Miranda, Patrick Katzenmayer, and Mounir Lynch.
The other three candidates in the race are Jermaine Kennedy, Janeece Keys and Kimberly Mason.
"I just think it's important to show up for your community to pay attention to local issues. A lot of the focus is on national politics, state politics, but what you vote for locally matters just as much, if not more, to your daily life."- Erin Norris of the North Side
Voters will also determine the fate of a renewal levy for the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. If passed, the renewal will generate more than $21 million for the zoo annually, and will cost owners of a home valued at $100,000 about $13 per year.
Suggs, a self-proclaimed "super Zoo-er" was excited to support the levy.
"Come on, the zoo is a staple, especially in Columbus, like we're known for our zoo," Suggs said.
James Hinkle, who voted at Dodge Park Recreation Center, said he voted no on every tax issue except the zoo's renewal levy.
"I'm just tired of taxes, mainly," Hinkle said.
He said, however, that the zoo was not raising taxes, and more importantly, he likes the elephants.
Like the others, Hinkle said he believes that people should always vote, especially in local elections.
