SpringfieldNewsSun.com

Springfield, Ohio — When the Clark County Board of elections opened at 8 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 30, a handful of people had already lined up to cast their ballots for this year's fall election.

Mark Oster, director of the Clark County Board of Elections, said his office saw a steady stream of voters throughout the day. Four people lined up at the office before it opened, and within the first three hours, about 70 voters had cast their ballots.

Oster said six staff members were on hand all day to help answer questions and help voters through the process.

"As people come in and fill out their paperwork, we're moving them through pretty quick," Oster said.

Boards of election across the state began accepting the early ballots Tuesday. Residents no longer need a reason to cast an absentee ballot, and can do so at any time before election day, which is Nov. 4.

On Monday, state and federal courts also upheld a decision that allows residents to cast ballots the same day they register.

For Mary and Carl Ferryman, of Urbana, early voting made sense for several reasons. Mary Ferryman works, and casting a ballot early is more convenient with her schedule. They said they also like to take their ballots home, allowing them more time to research the candidates and races.

"We just want to be well-informed," Carl Ferryman said.

Robin Burden, Champaign County Board of Elections director, said her office did not face the rush of voters that some of the larger counties did. Two additional part-time workers were brought in to handle absentee ballots, but only a few residents picked up the ballots Tuesday.

"We're not having as many people as some other counties are," Burden said.

She noted while voters were trickling into the board of elections office Tuesday, the numbers of absentee generally increase as it gets closer to the election.

Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0355 or msanctis@coxohio.com.