YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) – Have you cast a ballot yet? Early voting wraps up this weekend and the polls have already been a busy spot as we inch closer to Election Day.
Officials at the Mahoning County Board of Elections say that things have been moving smoothly. If there are any issues, it’s with absentee ballots.
We’ve received calls from voters concerned that they haven’t received them. Board of Elections Director Tom McCabe says they’ve got a plan for anyone worried about not getting their ballot on time.
“This is my seventh presidential election and this is on par with the other six. We always learn it all works out,” McCabe said.
He says they’ve seen an uptick in early voter turnout compared to 2016 but a slight drop measured with 2020.
“So far, about 47,000 people have voted in Mahoning County. That’s by mail and in person. So it’s been steady and ahead of 2016 but behind 2020, but that’s an aberration because of the COVID year when we had an influx of absentee ballots in the mail,” McCabe said.
He says some voters have experienced problems receiving those absentee ballots this year — something they receive calls for every day — but voters shouldn’t panic if they find themselves missing a ballot.
“That person can come in and vote in person on a regular ballot. We cancel the absentee request and they vote right here at the board of elections over the next three days,” McCabe said.
Lines were steady but moving on Friday. The board of elections will have extra staff available at all seven polling locations in the county to handle questions and make sure everything runs smoothly.
“We’re expecting about 70,000 voters on Tuesday, 70,000 to 75,000 voters on Tuesday. Because of the volume of the early vote, the absentees, the lines shouldn’t be too bad. They should move quickly,” McCabe said.
For anyone who wants to cast their ballots before Election Day, the Mahoning County Board of Elections is open until 7:30 p.m. Friday, as well as Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. These will be your last chances to do so before Election Day on Tuesday.