Early and absentee voting kicks off Oct. 12
The November election is just around the corner.
Early and absentee voting will begin Wednesday, Oct. 12, either by mail or in person at the Richland County Board of Elections, 1495 W. Longview Ave., in the lower-level classroom.
The closest entrance is in the back of the Longview Center by the "vote here" sign and flag. Those who have requested absentee ballots by mail will have them sent out on Oct. 12.
Matt Finfgeld, director of the local board of elections, said ballots cannot be sent out before then. The office has received a number of calls from people asking for them ahead of time.
The deadline to register to vote is Oct. 11. The board of elections will stay open until 9 p.m. that day. New voters should go around to the back of the building after 4 p.m.
Officials at the board of elections encourage voters to take advantage of the state's ample early voting opportunities. The deadline to request an absentee ballot for the Nov. 8 election is noon Nov. 5.
Absentee ballots must be postmarked by the day before the election in order to be counted. They also can be dropped off at the board of elections or placed in the locked drop-box in the rear, lower-level parking area of the Longview Center.
More than 5,000 people ask for mail-in ballots
"I think it will be busy," Finfgeld said. "We've received over 5,000 applications for mail-in paper ballots."
Overall, he is predicting voter turnout of 55 to 60%, which is consistent with other gubernatorial elections.
"I think it'll be busier than most years, but I don't think it will be crazy-busy," Finfgeld said.
In-person voting will take place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 12-14, Oct. 17-21 and Oct. 24-28, as well as 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 29.
Other dates and times are 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 31-Nov. 4; 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 5; 1 to 5 p.m. Nov. 6, and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 7.
After 2 p.m. on Nov. 7, residents must vote at their polling place on Nov. 8.
Voting locations change in 3 precincts
There will be changes to three voting locations for this and future elections. The first change affects voters in the Mansfield 6D precinct. They will move from Diamond Hills Baptist Church, 647 S. Diamond St., to Mission Point Church, 54 E. Cook Road.
"We combined Diamond Hills with Mission Point. There's easier access," Finfgeld said. "Anytime we can combine something, it helps with equipment and polling workers."
Voters in the Worthington Township A and B precincts will return to the previous polling place at the Butler Event Center, 111 W. Elm St. The most recent location was Three Crosses Church, 12 Cleveland St.
The final change will affect voters in the Mifflin Township A, B, C, D and E precincts. Voters will move from Mansfield Freewill Baptist Church, 998 Laver Road, to Ridgeway Church of God, 1380 Park Avenue East.
Voters in those precincts have been notified by mail of their new polling location name and address. There are no other expected revisions.
Next month's election will feature a race between Republican incumbent Gov. Mike DeWine and Democrat challenger Nan Whaley. The main local race is between Democrat Kirsten Pscholka-Gartner and Republican Beth Owens, who are vying to be the county's domestic relations judge.
Other races of note include a renewal levy for Mansfield City Schools and a bond issue for Lucas Local Schools.
Finfgeld is looking forward to Nov. 8.
"We've tested the machines, and we're ready to go," he said.
mcaudill@gannett.com
419-521-7219
Twitter: @MNJCaudill
This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Richland County voters can cast early ballots starting Oct. 12
