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Nearly 1.2 Million Ohio Voters Cast Early Ballots Ahead of Nov. 3 Election
Statewide participation is 373,000 votes ahead of the 2022 midterm pace as early in-person voting continues at the Franklin County Early Vote Center at 1700 Morse Road.
Voters line up outside the Franklin County Board of Elections on Morse Road in Columbus to cast early ballots.
Credit: George Shillcock / WOSU Image source
Across Ohio, nearly 1.2 million Ohioans have voted early, outpacing participation levels from the 2022 midterm election.
According to the Ohio Secretary of State's office, 373,000 more people have voted seven days from the election than during the same time during the 2022 midterms.
With one week remaining before Election Day, voters have returned 68% of Ohio’s requested absentee ballots, either by mail or by casting ballots in person at county boards of elections.
Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose announced that 2026 could represent a record-breaking year for early and absentee voting in a gubernatorial general election cycle.
Local Turnout Patterns in Franklin County
In Franklin County, early in-person voting began Oct. 6 at the Early Vote Center at 1700 Morse Road.
Previously, Pique Media reported that Franklin County recorded 25,679 early in-person voters as turnout varied by area.
Countywide records show 25,679 early voters, representing 3.4% of 754,776 active registered voters and 2.83% of 906,003 total registered voters.
Countywide, 151,227 voters—16.69% of all registered electors—are marked inactive.
Cross-matching local early voting records with voter registration files demonstrates that all 25,661 matched early voters held active status.
In northern Franklin County, Minerva Park recorded 129 early voters among 1,476 active registered voters, an active turnout rate of 8.74%.
Inner-ring northern suburbs followed, with Bexley at 6.43% and Worthington at 6.34%, respectively.
In Grove City, 522 early voters cast ballots among 28,701 active registered voters, an active turnout rate of 1.82%.
Within Columbus, neighborhood voting patterns showed similar differences. In Clintonville, active turnout reached 9.33% in Wards 19 through 22, while Northland precincts near Morse Road recorded 7.31% active turnout. In contrast, near-south Columbus saw lower in-person participation, with 0.68% active turnout in Ward 31 among active registered electors.
Among townships, Sharon Twp recorded 808 early voters among 13,015 active registered voters, an active participation rate of 6.21%.
To the south, Hamilton Twp recorded 65 early voters among 6,388 active registered voters, an active turnout rate of 1.02%.
Early in-person participation in Sharon Township ran roughly six times higher than in Hamilton Township.
In Dublin, 14.85% of active registered electors requested a mail ballot, compared to 2.85% voting in person.
In Grove City and Canal Winchester, mail ballot applications ran more than seven times higher than in-person early voting.
County analysis shows heavy suburban mail demand while maintaining high in-person voting: New Albany recorded 15.09% mail requests, Upper Arlington recorded 13.53%, and Worthington recorded 13.47%.
Final Week Early Voting Schedule
Ohio 2026 General Election Deadlines
Credit: Pique · Diagram
Diagram
Under state election law, the statutory application deadline to submit a valid application for an absentee ballot is the close of business on the Tuesday before Election Day.
Extended weekday early in-person voting runs Wednesday, Oct. 28, through Friday, Oct. 30, from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m..
Weekend early voting is open on Saturday, Oct. 31, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
The final day of early voting is scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 1, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
The general election is scheduled for November 3, 2026.
On Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 3, voters cast ballots at neighborhood precincts rather than the centralized Morse Road center.
Returning Absentee Ballots Before Nov. 3
Voters holding mail absentee ballots must ensure their materials are delivered on time.
Under Ohio law, all absentee ballots must be received by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day to be counted.
Completed ballots may also be placed in the secure drop box located outside the Franklin County Board of Elections at 1700 Morse Road.
According to election officials, the secure drop box is checked daily by a bipartisan staff team and remains under continuous video surveillance.
How we know this
The sources and records behind this story, with the facts they support.
Nearly 1.2 million Ohioans have voted early, outpacing 2022 midterm election
Supporting evidence (2)
Across Ohio, nearly 1.2 million Ohioans have voted early, outpacing participation levels from the 2022 midterm election.
Read supporting passage
Nearly 1.2 million Ohioans have voted early, outpacing 2022 midterm election
According to the Ohio Secretary of State's office, 373,000 more people have voted seven days from the election than during the same time during the 2022 midterms.
Read supporting passage
According to the Ohio Secretary of State’s, 373,000 more people have voted seven days from the election than during the same time during the 2022 midterms.
Ohio nears record early voting ahead of Election Day
Supporting evidence (2)
With one week remaining before Election Day, voters have returned 68% of Ohio’s requested absentee ballots, either by mail or by casting ballots in person at county boards of elections.
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One week out from Election Day, 68% of Ohio’s absentee ballots have been returned, either by voters mailing their ballots or voting in person at their local boards of elections.
Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose announced that 2026 could represent a record-breaking year for early and absentee voting in a gubernatorial general election cycle.
Read supporting passage
According to Secretary of State Frank LaRose, 2026 could be a record-breaking year for early and absentee voting in a gubernatorial
Franklin County Records 25,679 Early In-Person Voters as Turnout Varies by Area
Supporting evidence (15)
In Franklin County, early in-person voting began Oct. 6 at the Early Vote Center at 1700 Morse Road.
Read supporting passage
Early in-person voting for the November 2026 general midterm election began Oct. 6 at the Franklin County Early Vote Center at 1700 Morse Road.
Previously, Pique Media reported that Franklin County recorded 25,679 early in-person voters as turnout varied by area.
Read supporting passage
Franklin County Records 25,679 Early In-Person Voters as Turnout Varies by Area
Countywide records show 25,679 early voters, representing 3.4% of 754,776 active registered voters and 2.83% of 906,003 total registered voters.
Read supporting passage
Countywide records show 25,679 early voters, representing 3.4% of 754,776 active registered voters and 2.83% of 906,003 total registered voters
Countywide, 151,227 voters—16.69% of all registered electors—are marked inactive.
Read supporting passage
Countywide, 151,227 voters—16.69% of all registered electors—are marked inactive
Cross-matching local early voting records with voter registration files demonstrates that all 25,661 matched early voters held active status.
Read supporting passage
Cross-matching local early voting records with voter registration files demonstrates that 25,661 of the 25,679 early voters matched county registration files, and all 25,661 held active status
In northern Franklin County, Minerva Park recorded 129 early voters among 1,476 active registered voters, an active turnout rate of 8.74%.
Read supporting passage
Minerva Park recorded 129 early voters among 1,476 active registered voters, an active turnout rate of 8.74%
Inner-ring northern suburbs followed, with Bexley at 6.43% and Worthington at 6.34%, respectively.
Read supporting passage
Inner-ring northern suburbs Bexley and Worthington followed at 6.43% and 6.34%, respectively.
In Grove City, 522 early voters cast ballots among 28,701 active registered voters, an active turnout rate of 1.82%.
Read supporting passage
In Grove City, 522 early voters cast ballots among 28,701 active registered voters, an active turnout rate of 1.82%
Among townships, Sharon Twp recorded 808 early voters among 13,015 active registered voters, an active participation rate of 6.21%.
Read supporting passage
Sharon Twp recorded 808 early voters among 13,015 active registered voters, an active participation rate of 6.21%
To the south, Hamilton Twp recorded 65 early voters among 6,388 active registered voters, an active turnout rate of 1.02%.
Read supporting passage
Hamilton Twp recorded 65 early voters among 6,388 active registered voters, an active turnout rate of 1.02%
Early in-person participation in Sharon Township ran roughly six times higher than in Hamilton Township.
In Dublin, 14.85% of active registered electors requested a mail ballot, compared to 2.85% voting in person.
Read supporting passage
In Dublin, 14.85% of active registered voters requested a mail ballot, compared to 2.85% voting in person
In Grove City and Canal Winchester, mail ballot applications ran more than seven times higher than in-person early voting.
Read supporting passage
In Grove City and Canal Winchester, mail ballot requests ran more than seven times higher than in-person early voting.
County analysis shows heavy suburban mail demand while maintaining high in-person voting: New Albany recorded 15.09% mail requests, Upper Arlington recorded 13.53%, and Worthington recorded 13.47%.
Read supporting passage
Affluent northern suburbs also posted heavy mail ballot demand while maintaining high in-person voting: New Albany recorded 15.09% mail requests, Upper Arlington recorded 13.53%, and Worthington recorded 13.47%.
On Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 3, voters cast ballots at neighborhood precincts rather than the centralized Morse Road center.
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final participation patterns will depend on Election Day turnout on Tuesday, Nov. 3, when voters cast ballots at neighborhood precincts rather than the centralized Morse Road center.
Franklin County Voter Registration (dataset query)
Supporting evidence (3)
In Clintonville, active turnout reached 9.33% in Wards 19 through 22, while Northland precincts near Morse Road recorded 7.31% active turnout.
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area_group: Clintonville (Wards 19-22); early_voters: 2112; active_reg: 22626; total_reg: 25239; pct_active: 9.33; pct_total: 8.37; pct_inactive: 10.35
In Clintonville, active turnout reached 9.33% in Wards 19 through 22, while Northland precincts near Morse Road recorded 7.31% active turnout.
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area_group: Northland / Morse Rd vicinity; early_voters: 714; active_reg: 9765; total_reg: 12693; pct_active: 7.31; pct_total: 5.63; pct_inactive: 23.07
In contrast, near-south Columbus saw lower in-person participation, with 0.68% active turnout in Ward 31 among active registered electors.
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area_group: Ward 31 (Near South / South Side); early_voters: 23; active_reg: 3358; total_reg: 4734; pct_active: 0.68; pct_total: 0.49; pct_inactive: 29.07
https://vote.franklincountyohio.gov/voters/absentee-and-early-voting
Supporting evidence (9)
Under state election law, the statutory application deadline to submit a valid application for an absentee ballot is the close of business on the Tuesday before Election Day.
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Due to the passage of House Bill 458, The deadline to submit a valid application for an absentee ballot is the close of business on the Tuesday before Election Day.
Extended weekday early in-person voting runs Wednesday, Oct. 28, through Friday, Oct. 30, from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m..
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Wednesday, October 28 – Friday, October 30
Extended weekday early in-person voting runs Wednesday, Oct. 28, through Friday, Oct. 30, from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m..
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7:30 AM – 7:30 PM
Weekend early voting is open on Saturday, Oct. 31, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
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Saturday, October 318:00 AM – 4:00 PM
The final day of early voting is scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 1, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
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Sunday, November 1 - Final Day of Early Voting1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
The general election is scheduled for November 3, 2026.
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November 3, 2026 - General Election
Under Ohio law, all absentee ballots must be received by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day to be counted.
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Due to the passage of Senate Bill 293, 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.
Completed ballots may also be placed in the secure drop box located outside the Franklin County Board of Elections at 1700 Morse Road.
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Voter registration forms, absentee ballot applications and your completed ballot may be placed in our secure drop box, located outside the Franklin County Board of Elections at 1700 Morse Road.
According to election officials, the secure drop box is checked daily by a bipartisan staff team and remains under continuous video surveillance.
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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.