Ohio voters made the most of extended early voting hours and warm fall weather, showing up in large numbers at the state’s 88 county Boards of Elections. With polling sites open from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, voters lined up not only to cast their ballots in person but also to submit vote-by-mail applications before the 8:30 p.m. deadline.
In Summit County, lines stretched outside the Early Vote Center, where voters like Akron resident Dawn Blair expressed gratitude for the early voting option. “I knew there’d be a big turnout this year, so I figured I’d better get here early,” Blair remarked, comparing Tuesday’s lines favorably to those on past election days.
Many voters made it a family affair, like Lauren Ferre of Akron, who brought her two young children to witness the voting process. “It’s good for them to see what we’re doing here,” she said, emphasizing the importance of engaging kids in civic activities.
In Wayne County, officials noted a surge in early voting, with some days seeing a 50% increase over 2020. The county’s Board of Elections reported that at peak times, around 100 voters were processed each hour, keeping wait times manageable. “Nobody has had to wait more than 10 to 15 minutes,” said BOE Director Julie Leathers Stahl.
Meanwhile, in Cuyahoga County, around 150 high school seniors marched to cast their first ballots, including student Angel Andino, who expressed both nerves and excitement for the experience. Fellow first-time voter Naja Smith encouraged others to follow suit. “This election is really important,” she said.
The crowd also included 83-year-old Helen Kabat from Parma, who felt inspired by the range of ages present. “Seeing so many people doing their duty and supporting our country is a fantastic thing,” she shared, moved by the sense of unity.
Early voting continues at county Boards of Elections from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. through Friday, with additional weekend hours on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. This year, in-person early voting will not be available on the day before Election Day, allowing election staff time for preparations.