Today is an important day for the United States as it is Election Day! While this year is not a presidential election year, many important state issues are still on the ballot.
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The Allen County Board of Elections reports that they have sent over 5,000 absentee ballots this election cycle and have received a little more than 4,000 back. So far as of Friday afternoon, 3,732 residents have cast their votes in person. Those who still have to turn in their absentee ballot must do so quickly in order to have their votes counted.
August 2nd is an election day and polls will be open for voters to cast a ballot for state central committee members and state representatives. This is all because of the congressional district maps that the Ohio Supreme Court has ruled unconstitutional. Election officials just want people to remember their vote counts and even though this election is unusual they need to cast their vote.
The Allen County Board of Elections are ready for the upcoming August primary election.
The two contests on the ballot drawing people to the polls across Ohio include the race for governor as well as U.S. Senate.
The Allen County Board of Elections is asking residents to come out and vote early in order to have their voices heard. The board of elections will be open Saturday, April 30th from 8:00 AM to 4:00 AM, and then Sunday, May 1st from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM. Early voting will also be available the day before Election Day, Monday, May 2nd from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM.
Believe it or not, another election season is fast approaching, and so is the deadline to register. Monday, April 5th, is the last day to register to vote in the May primary election. This can be done so online at vote.gov, or at the board of elections office or their website.
With Thursday's lawsuit filed against Lima Mayoral Candidate Elizabeth Hardesty questioning her residency, this could affect the ballot. However, to accommodate military voters, ballots have already been printed. While the decision on Hardesty's eligibility is now in the court system, the Director of the Allen County Board of Elections, Kathy Meyer, says they would make changes if needed.
With ballots still being counted around the country, a recount coming in parts of Wisconsin and a contentious presidential election still in limbo, all is pretty quiet in Ohio.
Wednesday is the day board of elections around Ohio quietly went about their business and submitted their official canvas to the state to make those results final. Allen County Board of Elections completed their official canvas, adding in all the verified absentee and provisional ballots.
On Election Day, when counting the votes, all the results are unofficial.
Allen County had 1,326 provisional ballots cast. What was unusual was the county had more early votes than votes on election day, something the board director says is highly irregular. And after sorting through it all, she assures everything checks out and there was no voter fraud.
For those that didn't vote early, they will cast their vote on Tuesday. A record number of people in the county voted early in this election. In 2016, 13,403 people voted early by mail or in person. As of Monday morning, almost double that number has voted early, 25,235 people. For those left to vote, locations will have personal protective equipment available as well sanitizer. People were also hired to clean voting booths in between voters.
Ohio’s Secretary of State has announced that the number of absentee ballot requests has more than doubled since the 2016 election.