Local voters can do so in Clark County at the Turner Studio Theatre at the Clark State Performing Arts Center, 300 South Fountain Ave, and those in Champaign County can vote early at the Board of Elections' office at 1512 S. U.S. Highway 68.
Both counties have seen a record number of absentee ballot request as well as in-person early voting so far for this year’s general election. Election day will be held on Nov. 3.
“Turnout has been record breaking. We have had over 9,000 people come through the early voting center,” said Jason Baker, the director for the Clark County Board of Elections.
In Clark County, 20,528 absentee ballots have been requested for voting by mail as of Thursday afternoon. That number, combined with number of in-person early voting, has already surpassed the number of absentee votes cast during the entirety of the general election in 2016.
During that election a total of 23,134 absentee ballots were cast, including 11,246 by mail and 11,510 in-person.
As of Thursday afternoon, Clark County’s Board of Elections had already received back a total of 24,643 ballots, including 9,802 cast in-person, since early voting started on Oct. 6. That number of ballots received during the same time period in 2016 was 11,878.
In Champaign County, 5,251 ballots have been sent by mail and 3,416 people have voted in-person as of Thursday afternoon. That number has already surpassed the 2016 election, which saw a total of 6,375 absentee ballots being sent during its entirety.
As of Thursday, the Champaign County Board of Elections had received 6,942 ballots compared to the 2,780 during the same period in 2016.
Voters in Ohio have until Oct. 31 to request an absentee ballot by mail. Election officials in both counties say they have not had issues in processing those applications, despite a large uptick in those requests.
However, Baker said that those requests in Clark County have tapered off since the start of early voting in the state.
Meredith Bodey, the director for the Champaign County Board of Elections, said everything has been running smoothly for them as well.
Bodey said they have received notice that some voters are receiving cards in the mail stating that their ballots have not been received by the Board of Elections.
She said that information is false and voters can check with her office to get an update on their ballot status by calling 937-484-1575.
When and where you can vote early in person
Early in-person voting hours are uniform across Ohio’s counties.
Saturday, Oct. 24, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 25, 1 p.m.-5 p.m.
Monday-Frdiay Oct. 26-Oct. 30, 8 a.m.-7 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 31, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 1, 1 p.m.-5 p.m.
Monday, Nov. 2, 8 a.m.-2 p.m.
Where to vote early in person
Early voting locations:
Clark County
(New location for early voting) Turner Studio Theatre at the Clark State Performing Arts Center
300 South Fountain Ave., Springfield
Mailing Address: PO Box 1766 Springfield, OH 45501-1766 Telephone: (937) 521-2120 Fax: (937) 328-2603 E-mail: elections@clark.boe.ohio.gov Website: www.boe.ohio.gov/clark/
Champaign County
Champaign County Board of Elections
1512 South U.S. Hwy 68, Suite L100 Urbana
Telephone: (937) 484-1575 Fax: (937) 484-1578 E-mail: champaig@OhioSoS.gov Website: www.boe.ohio.gov/champaign/
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