LISBON — Columbiana County Board of Elections Director Kim Fusco said she expects a record number of early voters and an overall turnout of 75 to 78 percent for the state’s presidential election. November 5.

“Maybe even higher” she said.

In the 2020 presidential election, 76% of the county’s registered voters cast ballots. This figure in 2016 was 71.65 percent.

As for the number of early voters in power, Fusco said the 2020 fall election record has already been surpassed and there are still two days left. The March 2020 election saw 901 early voters in power. For the November 2020 election, that number exploded to 9,198.

As of Friday afternoon, the number of early voters in power stood at 10,178 and was steadily increasing. Fusco predicted that number could reach 13,000 voters by the end of Sunday, the last day to vote early at the county Board of Elections office, located at 7989 Dickey Drive, in Lisbon. The schedule is 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. today and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

“This is by far the biggest project ever carried out” Fusco said.

As of Friday afternoon, the total number of absentee ballots, which would include absentee, office, nursing home and military/supervised ballots, was 16,014. That represents 25 percent of voters registered in the county. Fusco also pointed out that the majority of that number came from early voting in office.

“I’m very happy that people are voting. People are very passionate about voting and looking for change. she said.

The ability to vote early is a good thing, she said, noting that there have been no problems. She explained that once everyone saw how safe it was, they started doing it. By voting early in person, the voter does not have to fill out an absentee ballot application. They simply show up with their driving license.

She credits the smooth running of the system to additional office workers hired to help with early voting. She said she was very proud of them, especially in handling the number of voters who showed up.

A dozen additional workers were hired, including four at the counter and one in the lobby to direct voters. She thanked the county commissioners for approving more money for Board of Elections appropriations to cover the cost of more people. Some of those hired included both new and former poll workers.

Mailed absentee ballots must be postmarked on or before November 4 and arrive at the office by November 9. Postal ballots can be placed in the secure drop box monitored 24/7 in front of the Board of Elections office in Lisbon or taken inside. the office until 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Election Day.

A reader recently asked if illegal citizens could vote and according to Fusco, non-citizens are not allowed to vote. According to the Photo ID Review Process published by the Ohio Secretary of State’s Office, driver’s licenses and state IDs include a section on the back that will identify a person as non-citizen. If the person does not provide valid photo identification and acceptable proof of citizenship and insists on voting, they must vote by provisional ballot.

“We have no right to deny anyone the right to vote. If they insist, we provide them with a ballot. » Fusco said.

But that doesn’t mean their vote will count. Provisional ballots are ballots where there may be a question about a voter’s registration, address, citizenship, or whether they are voting in the correct precinct. Provisional ballots are not counted until 10 days after the election, giving Board of Elections staff time to research the voter’s eligibility to vote. They are set aside and reviewed, and then the four-member board overseeing the elections board votes to accept or reject each individual provisional ballot.

“We are following the Ohio Secretary of State’s step-by-step procedures and rules,” Fusco said.

Citizens who are outside the country but are registered to vote and intend to return at some point may request and return a mail-in ballot through the Voting Act mail order for citizens in uniform and abroad, called UOCAVA. There have been 86 absentee ballots requested by UOCAVA for this election, 46 of which have been cast and returned to the Board of Elections so far.

For voters who prefer to vote on Election Day in their local precinct, polls will be open Tuesday from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Just bring a photo ID.

For more information about elections, to check voter registration or to see a sample ballot, visit the Board of Elections website at columbiana.boe.ohio.gov.

The board is scheduled to meet at 10:30 a.m. Monday and again on election night Tuesday. Other meeting dates are November 15 at 1:30 p.m. to approve provisional ballots; and 4:30 p.m. on November 19 to certify the general election results.

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