Overview
- Early in-person voting opened Tuesday across Ohio, and counties began mailing vote-by-mail ballots to voters who requested them.
- State lawmakers removed a four-day postmark grace period so mailed ballots now must be received by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day to be counted.
- Voters casting early in-person ballots must show an approved photo ID, and most county boards are operating 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Oct. 23 with expanded hours closer to Election Day.
- Local officials reported heavier early turnout than at past midterms, with Hamilton County noting large first-day lines and Cuyahoga County projecting roughly 30% of votes will be cast before Election Day.
- Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose launched a continuous audit of county voter rolls to spot discrepancies daily, and counties are recruiting paid poll workers to handle the expected volume.