Local early voting participation surpasses expectations
NEW PHILADELPHIA (WJER) (July 31, 2023) – Tuscarawas County voting officials are predicting a high turnout in next week’s special election to decide whether to increase the threshold for amending Ohio’s constitution from a simple majority to 60-percent.
Board of Elections Director Gail Garbrandt says if early absentee totals are any indication, the polls should be hopping next Tuesday.
“There are those voters out there who like the traditional trip to their polling place on election day, so we do expect to be busy. We’ll see how our numbers turn out, but I think for an August election it’s going to be a record.”
Tuscarawas County has around 59,000 registered voters. As of this morning, almost 2,000 of them had taken advantage of early in-person voting and more than 3,200 had cast a mail-in ballot.
“We’ve received 1,245 Republican absentee ballots, 1,362 Democratic ballots, 2 Libertarian ballots, and 612 non-affiliated ballots.”
Those wanting to vote by mail have until 8:30 Tuesday night to turn in a completed request form. Garbrandt says you can fill one out at her office on the first floor of the county courthouse, which will be open right up to the deadline.
“Or they can print it from the Secretary of State’s website. As long as it has all the information on it, we can process it.”
Early voting will be available until the elections office closes Tuesday night and continues daily from 7:30 am to 7:30 pm through Friday. It reopens Saturday from 8 to 4 and Sunday afternoon from 1 to 5 but isn’t taking place Monday because of Ohio’s new election law.