CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — In an unprecedented turn of events, Republicans have surged ahead of Democrats in early voting in Ross County, marking a historic shift in the county’s political landscape. Traditionally, Democrats have been associated with higher participation in absentee and early voting, while Republicans have leaned towards the more traditional approach of casting ballots on Election Day.
The data, compiled by the Ross County Board of Elections, reveals a significant departure from the historical voting patterns that have long defined the county’s political dynamics. As of the latest update Monday night, Republicans have surpassed Democrats in early voting, indicating a notable change in voter behavior.
2,214 Republicans cast their ballots early, while only 2,010 Democrats voted early. However, 2,556 Independents cast their vote by mail-in, walk-in, or carry-in. Nevertheless, the partisan numbers are a historic first.
The shift in early voting trends has caught the attention of political analysts who have closely monitored Ohio’s electoral landscape. Historically, Democrats in the state have embraced early and absentee voting as a strategic method to mobilize their voter base. Conversely, Republicans have tended to rely on traditional in-person voting on Election Day.
The Ross County Board of Elections attributes the change to a combination of factors, including increased outreach efforts by the Republican Party, changes in voter demographics, and a growing awareness among voters about the convenience of early voting.
High early voting turnout was observed in Ohio, with nearly 854,900 Ohioans casting their votes since early voting commenced last month. Of these, approximately 566,400 people voted early in person, and nearly 288,500 absentee ballots were returned, as reported by the Secretary of State’s Daily Absentee Report Counts.
On Saturday, 43,390 people participated in in-person voting, accompanied by the return of 7,741 absentee ballots, statewide. Sunday saw 35,948 individuals vote in person and 2,736 absentee ballots returned. Melanie Amato, director of communications for the Secretary of State’s office, expressed satisfaction with the early voting and absentee ballot participation.
The high turnout was driven in part by Ohio Issues 1 and 2, which sparked increased interest among voters. Approximately 60% of voters in the area still preferred to vote on Election Day, with 40% opting for early voting, officials said.
Notably, a new voter ID law was in effect, requiring voters to present a photo ID for in-person voting, whether on Election Day or during early voting at county boards of election. Voters casting their ballots by mail could provide a copy of their photo ID, driver’s license number, or the last four digits of their Social Security number. Additionally, free state IDs were made available to residents at local Bureau of Motor Vehicles deputy registrar locations.
As the election season progresses, all eyes will be on Chillicothe to see whether this shift in early voting patterns holds and whether it will have a lasting impact on the city’s political landscape. The November elections are expected to provide further insights into the evolving preferences and behaviors of voters in this historically significant region of Ohio.
Polls in Ohio opened at 6:30 a.m. on Tuesday and are set to close at 7:30 p.m. Voters are encouraged to check their polling location on the Secretary of State’s website.