Early voting for the May 3 primary election opened April 5 with Lucas and Wood counties reporting a slow start for the initial turnout.
As of Friday, the Lucas County Board of Elections had reported that 180 voters had cast their ballots in person at the Early Vote Center at 1301 Monroe St., between 13th and 14th streets, in downtown Toledo. The board had also sent out 2,010 ballots by mail. Considering nursing home, remote vote, military, and overseas ballots, a total of 2,415 ballots have been circulated for Lucas County.
“It's been slower than similar-like elections or statewide, state elections than it has in the past in the in-person voting,” said Tim Monaco, deputy director of the Lucas County Board of Elections. “We haven’t received a lot of our mail back yet, I know ballots are out there.”
Of the ballots sent out, requested, and submitted in person, the board has identified 104 “problem applications” the board is in the process of resolving.
Breaking the ballots down by party shows 1,444 Democratic ballots, 759 Republican ballots, and 212 nonpartisan ballots in Lucas County.
In Wood County, 88 people had voted early in person and the board had sent out 481 ballots, including military and overseas voters, as of Monday afternoon.
“That is particularly slow, for an election of this type,” said Terry Burton, director of the Wood County Board of Elections. “It is a very slow start.”
Mr. Monaco also said the board is still seeking poll workers to help assist with the election. Registered Lucas County voters who do not have a felony on their record are eligible to become a poll worker, if they choose.
“If you’re interested and if you want to see how the process works, or you’re confused and you have questions about how voting works, the best way is to be a poll worker,” he said. “We’ll train you, and we always need people to work the polls on election day, and if you can’t even do a full day on election day, there’s jobs available for people to work on election night to help out as well, to help us get the ballots back.”
Mr. Burton said voters should still be prepared with the necessary documents, even if they’re coming in to vote early.
“The most important thing is to bring a form of ID, much like they would at the polls, that way there’s no issue out there,” he said. “The other thing is just double-checking the hours for early voting.”
Candidates for state senator, state representative, and state central committee are not on the ballot for the May 3 primary because of the ongoing redrawing of district lines. State, county, and federal officials remain on the ballot.
Early voting in Ohio runs through May 2, the day before the primary.
In Lucas County, those using the Early Vote Center are asked to use the main entrance off Washington Street. Hours for early voting are detailed on the Board of Elections website. A link is available at www.lucascountyohiovotes.gov
In Wood County, early voting is at 1 Courthouse Square in Bowling Green in an atrium area between the courthouse and county offices, the election board office said. Voting hours are available through the Wood County Board of Elections website at www.co.wood.oh.us/boe.
First Published April 11, 2022, 8:43 p.m.
