Franklin County Records 93,166 Early Voters as Northern Areas Lead Participation
Early in-person balloting concluded with 93,166 votes cast, showing higher participation in northern suburbs than southern communities.
Franklin County recorded 93,166 early in-person voters across its completed election period.
The total represented 12.34% of the county's 754,776 active registered voters. Across all 906,003 registered electors on county rolls, early voting reached 10.28% of total registration.
Voters enter the Franklin County Early Vote Center at 1700 Morse Road.
Credit: John Minchillo / Associated Press Image source
Previously, Pique Media tracked early voting pace and geographic turnout differences on Oct. 16 and reported the closure of early in-person operations on Nov. 2.
Final-Week Surge and Daily Pace
Participation accelerated significantly as early voting progressed toward the Nov. 3 general election. Through Friday, Oct. 9, early voting reached 12,438 cumulative ballots.
By Saturday, Oct. 24, cumulative balloting reached 54,708 electors. A final-week surge added 38,458 voters across the concluding seven days. Total cumulative participation reached 93,166 ballots on Sunday, Nov. 1.
On Tuesday, Oct. 27, single-day turnout reached 6,212 voters. On Sunday, Nov. 1, 3,312 voters cast ballots.
Municipal Turnout Disparities
Turnout varied across Franklin County municipalities, with northern communities recording higher participation rates than southern jurisdictions.
In Minerva Park, 372 early voters cast ballots, representing 25.20% of 1,476 active registered electors. In Worthington, 2,205 early electors voted, or 20.02% of 11,014 active registered voters. Columbus recorded 62,737 early voters, amounting to 13.38% of 468,899 active registered electors.
In contrast, southern municipalities recorded lower participation levels. In Grove City, 1,839 early electors cast ballots, representing 6.41% of 28,701 active voters. In Obetz, 229 early electors voted, amounting to 5.31% of 4,316 active registered electors.
Columbus Neighborhood Divide
Within the City of Columbus, turnout patterns mirrored the broader north-south divide. Wards situated in northern Columbus and near Morse Road turned out at rates multiple times higher than those on the city's south and east sides.
In the Clintonville area encompassing wards 19 through 22, 6,319 voters represented 27.93% of 22,626 active registered electors. In the Northland area near Morse Road, 2,296 voters accounted for 23.51% of 9,765 active electors.
Southern and eastern Columbus neighborhoods saw markedly lower early in-person turnout. Along the Far South Side corridor, 904 voters cast ballots, representing 7.49% of 12,063 active electors. In Ward 41 on the East Side, 104 voters accounted for 2.61% of 3,979 active electors.
Township and Precinct Extremes
Township balloting reflected identical geographic dynamics. In Sharon Township, 2,591 early voters cast ballots, representing 19.91% of 13,015 active registered electors. Perry Township recorded 599 early ballots, or 17.42% of its 3,438 active electors.
Southern townships trailed county averages. Pleasant Township logged 182 ballots, representing 4.17% of 4,363 active electors. In Hamilton Township, 255 early electors voted, representing 3.99% of 6,388 active registered electors.
Precinct-level data among precincts with at least 500 active electors highlighted even wider contrasts. In Precinct Columbus 22-A, 339 early voters cast ballots, representing 34.98% of 969 active registered electors. In Precinct Hamilton-B, 8 early electors cast ballots, representing 1.59% of 504 active registered electors.
Voter Roll Matching and Reactivations
Cross-referencing early voting data against county registration files showed that 93,110 early electors were matched to registration records.
Among those matched voters, 879 electors were categorized as inactive on registration lists prior to casting their ballots. Under Ohio election administration rules, casting an early in-person ballot automatically returns inactive electors to active status on county registration rolls.
Election Day Polling and Drop Box Rules
According to the Franklin County Board of Elections, Sunday, Nov. 1, was the final day of early voting.
Electors planning to vote in person on Tuesday, Nov. 3, must cast ballots at their assigned neighborhood polling places between 6:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Voters holding absentee mail ballots may return them using the 24-hour secure drop box outside the board offices at 1700 Morse Road. The drop box is under continuous video surveillance and is checked daily by a bipartisan team of board staff. All absentee ballots must be received by the board no later than 7:30 p.m. on Election Day to be counted.
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How we know this
The sources and records behind this story, with the facts they support.
Franklin County early in-person voting — November 2026 (dataset query)
Supporting evidence (3)
Franklin County recorded 93,166 early in-person voters across its completed election period.
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total_early_in_person_voters: 93166; county_active_registered: 754776; county_total_registered: 906003; county_active_turnout_pct: 12.34; county_total_turnout_pct: 10.28
The total represented 12.34% of the county's 754,776 active registered voters.
Read supporting passage
total_early_in_person_voters: 93166; county_active_registered: 754776; county_total_registered: 906003; county_active_turnout_pct: 12.34; county_total_turnout_pct: 10.28
Across all 906,003 registered electors on county rolls, early voting reached 10.28% of total registration.
Read supporting passage
total_early_in_person_voters: 93166; county_active_registered: 754776; county_total_registered: 906003; county_active_turnout_pct: 12.34; county_total_turnout_pct: 10.28
Franklin County early in-person voting — November 2026 (dataset query)
Supporting evidence (5)
Through Friday, Oct. 9, early voting reached 12,438 cumulative ballots.
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vote_date: 2026-10-09; vote_day: 2026-10-09; formatted_day: Fri, Oct 09; daily_voters: 3584; cumulative_voters: 12438
By Saturday, Oct. 24, cumulative balloting reached 54,708 electors.
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vote_date: 2026-10-24; vote_day: 2026-10-24; formatted_day: Sat, Oct 24; daily_voters: 4907; cumulative_voters: 54708
Total cumulative participation reached 93,166 ballots on Sunday, Nov. 1.
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vote_date: 2026-11-01; vote_day: 2026-11-01; formatted_day: Sun, Nov 01; daily_voters: 3312; cumulative_voters: 93166
On Tuesday, Oct. 27, single-day turnout reached 6,212 voters.
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vote_date: 2026-10-27; vote_day: 2026-10-27; formatted_day: Tue, Oct 27; daily_voters: 6212; cumulative_voters: 66900
On Sunday, Nov. 1, 3,312 voters cast ballots.
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vote_date: 2026-11-01; vote_day: 2026-11-01; formatted_day: Sun, Nov 01; daily_voters: 3312; cumulative_voters: 93166
Franklin County Voter Registration (dataset query)
Supporting evidence (5)
In Minerva Park, 372 early voters cast ballots, representing 25.20% of 1,476 active registered electors.
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municipality: Minerva Park; early_voters: 372; active_registered: 1476; total_registered: 1676; active_turnout_pct: 25.2; total_turnout_pct: 22.2; inactive_share_pct: 11.93
In Worthington, 2,205 early electors voted, or 20.02% of 11,014 active registered voters.
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municipality: Worthington; early_voters: 2205; active_registered: 11014; total_registered: 11834; active_turnout_pct: 20.02; total_turnout_pct: 18.63; inactive_share_pct: 6.93
Columbus recorded 62,737 early voters, amounting to 13.38% of 468,899 active registered electors.
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municipality: Columbus; early_voters: 62737; active_registered: 468899; total_registered: 581579; active_turnout_pct: 13.38; total_turnout_pct: 10.79; inactive_share_pct: 19.37
In Grove City, 1,839 early electors cast ballots, representing 6.41% of 28,701 active voters.
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municipality: Grove City; early_voters: 1839; active_registered: 28701; total_registered: 32184; active_turnout_pct: 6.41; total_turnout_pct: 5.71; inactive_share_pct: 10.82
In Obetz, 229 early electors voted, amounting to 5.31% of 4,316 active registered electors.
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municipality: Obetz; early_voters: 229; active_registered: 4316; total_registered: 5034; active_turnout_pct: 5.31; total_turnout_pct: 4.55; inactive_share_pct: 14.26
Franklin County Voter Registration (dataset query)
Supporting evidence (4)
In the Clintonville area encompassing wards 19 through 22, 6,319 voters represented 27.93% of 22,626 active registered electors.
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area_group: Clintonville (Wards 19-22); early_voters: 6319; active_reg: 22626; total_reg: 25239; pct_active: 27.93; pct_total: 25.04; pct_inactive: 10.35
In the Northland area near Morse Road, 2,296 voters accounted for 23.51% of 9,765 active electors.
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area_group: Northland / Morse Rd vicinity; early_voters: 2296; active_reg: 9765; total_reg: 12693; pct_active: 23.51; pct_total: 18.09; pct_inactive: 23.07
Along the Far South Side corridor, 904 voters cast ballots, representing 7.49% of 12,063 active electors.
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area_group: Far South / South High corridor; early_voters: 904; active_reg: 12063; total_reg: 14779; pct_active: 7.49; pct_total: 6.12; pct_inactive: 18.38
In Ward 41 on the East Side, 104 voters accounted for 2.61% of 3,979 active electors.
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area_group: Ward 41 (East / Livingston-James); early_voters: 104; active_reg: 3979; total_reg: 6530; pct_active: 2.61; pct_total: 1.59; pct_inactive: 39.07
Franklin County Voter Registration (dataset query)
Supporting evidence (4)
In Sharon Township, 2,591 early voters cast ballots, representing 19.91% of 13,015 active registered electors.
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township_name: Sharon Twp; early_voters: 2591; active_reg: 13015; total_reg: 14008; pct_active: 19.91; pct_total: 18.5; pct_inactive: 7.09
Perry Township recorded 599 early ballots, or 17.42% of its 3,438 active electors.
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township_name: Perry Twp; early_voters: 599; active_reg: 3438; total_reg: 3767; pct_active: 17.42; pct_total: 15.9; pct_inactive: 8.73
Pleasant Township logged 182 ballots, representing 4.17% of 4,363 active electors.
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township_name: Pleasant Twp; early_voters: 182; active_reg: 4363; total_reg: 4892; pct_active: 4.17; pct_total: 3.72; pct_inactive: 10.81
In Hamilton Township, 255 early electors voted, representing 3.99% of 6,388 active registered electors.
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township_name: Hamilton Twp; early_voters: 255; active_reg: 6388; total_reg: 7606; pct_active: 3.99; pct_total: 3.35; pct_inactive: 16.01
Franklin County Voter Registration (dataset query)
Supporting evidence (1)
In Precinct Columbus 22-A, 339 early voters cast ballots, representing 34.98% of 969 active registered electors.
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precinct_code: 01022A; precinct_name_split: COLS 22-A 01; early_voters: 339; active_reg: 969; total_reg: 1046; pct_active: 34.98; pct_total: 32.41
Franklin County Voter Registration (dataset query)
Supporting evidence (1)
In Precinct Hamilton-B, 8 early electors cast ballots, representing 1.59% of 504 active registered electors.
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precinct_code: 08000B; precinct_name_split: HAMILTON-B 01; early_voters: 8; active_reg: 504; total_reg: 610; pct_active: 1.59; pct_total: 1.31
Franklin County early in-person voting — November 2026 (dataset query)
Supporting evidence (2)
Cross-referencing early voting data against county registration files showed that 93,110 early electors were matched to registration records.
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total_early_voters: 93166; matched_voters: 93110; active_status_count: 92231; inactive_status_count: 879; unmatched_count: 56
Among those matched voters, 879 electors were categorized as inactive on registration lists prior to casting their ballots.
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total_early_voters: 93166; matched_voters: 93110; active_status_count: 92231; inactive_status_count: 879; unmatched_count: 56
https://vote.franklincountyohio.gov/voters/absentee-and-early-voting
Supporting evidence (3)
According to the Franklin County Board of Elections, Sunday, Nov. 1, was the final day of early voting.
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Sunday, November 1 - Final Day of Early Voting1:00 PM – 5:00 PMTo find your polling location click here
The drop box is under continuous video surveillance and is checked daily by a bipartisan team of board staff.
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The secure drop box is checked every day by a bipartisan team of Board of Elections employees. The drop box is kept under 24/7 video surveillance.
All absentee ballots must be received by the board no later than 7:30 p.m. on Election Day to be counted.
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Ohio law now requires all absentee ballots be received by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day. Your absentee ballot MUST be received no later than 7:30 p.m. on Election Day.
Franklin County Records 25,679 Early In-Person Voters as Turnout Varies by Area
Supporting evidence (1)
Previously, Pique Media tracked early voting pace and geographic turnout differences on Oct. 16 and reported the closure of early in-person operations on Nov. 2.
Read supporting passage
Franklin County Records 25,679 Early In-Person Voters as Turnout Varies by Area
Supporting evidence (1)
Previously, Pique Media tracked early voting pace and geographic turnout differences on Oct. 16 and reported the closure of early in-person operations on Nov. 2.
Read supporting passage
Franklin County Concludes Early Voting as Board Says Morse Road Location Will Not Serve as Polling Site Tuesday