Early voting begins in Ohio on Issue 1, here's how it went in Franklin County

Arianna Smith, The Columbus Dispatch
Updated ·4 min read
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A steady stream of voters comes and goes on the first day of early voting for Issue 1 Tuesday at the Franklin County Board of Elections.
A steady stream of voters comes and goes on the first day of early voting for Issue 1 Tuesday at the Franklin County Board of Elections.

Early voting has begun, and Franklin County voters were ready to cast their ballots as they gathered outside of the Franklin County Early Vote Center early Tuesday morning.

Tuesday marked the first day Ohio voters could cast their ballots on Issue 1, a proposal seeking to require that any proposed amendment to the Ohio Constitution acquire a 60% majority vote in favor of the amendment.

Antone White, director of the Franklin County Board of Elections, said they were sending out 10,240 absentee ballots by mail Tuesday, the first day they can send out these ballots.

It was anticipated that this election would attract a busier turnout than past special elections due to the nature of the issue, White said.

"There seems to be a lot of media surrounding this," White said. "We had a bit of a line this morning for the first day of early voting here in person, so I think it'd be more, a little bit higher than normal turnout for a special (election)."

Turnout in the August 2022 special legislative primaries was 6.9% in Franklin County. A total of 60,216 votes were cast in that historically poor turnout election in the county.

White said he believes the ballot issue is of high interest to Democrats and Republicans.

"We're gonna see a good turnout, people (are) passionate about the issue and I think people will come out and vote," White said.

Greg Finnerty, a Dublin resident, said he was voting against Issue 1 because it would allow 40% of the population to "dictate policy" for the remaining 60%. He added that he's not sure where he'll be on the Aug. 8 Election Day but knows that he can control his own destiny here today.

"I find this so reprehensible that I felt that I needed the relief (of) casting my vote as soon as possible against this atrocious issue," Finnerty said.

Opponents of Issue 1, including Columbus Mayor Andrew J. Ginther, held a rally at the board of election office later Tuesday morning.

Lee Penn of East Columbus, has her picture taken on the first day of early voting for Issue 1 on Tuesday at the Franklin County Board of Elections. Penn says she has a tradition of early voting on the first day of every election and remarked that this was the busiest she has seen it.
Lee Penn of East Columbus, has her picture taken on the first day of early voting for Issue 1 on Tuesday at the Franklin County Board of Elections. Penn says she has a tradition of early voting on the first day of every election and remarked that this was the busiest she has seen it.

Lee Penn, a Near East Side resident, said that she has voted early on the first possible day for every election since she has turned 18. She's now in her 50s.

"This is the most people I've ever seen on the first day of (early voting in the) election and I do it every election, and I've been doing it every election, like the November election, the May election, even the special election, which is this August, and this is the most people I've ever seen," Penn said.

Penn said she voted no on this issue because she felt it was confusingly written and that it will hurt more people than it will help.

Robin Link, an employee at the Franklin County Board of Elections, said it was busy for a special election and that they have had a great turnout thus far.

Overall, 1488 votes had been cast Tuesday, in Franklin County.

A steady stream of voters waits to cast their ballot on the first day of early voting for Issue 1 Tuesday at the Franklin County Board of Elections.
A steady stream of voters waits to cast their ballot on the first day of early voting for Issue 1 Tuesday at the Franklin County Board of Elections.

For those wishing to vote early through absentee ballot by mail, you can request an application from the Franklin County Board of Elections, White said.

Absentee ballot requests can be made by filling out an application on Ohiosos.com, where people mail the finished application to the Franklin County Board of Elections. Voters can print applications directly from the website or can have an application mailed to them by calling the Franklin County Board of Elections office.

The deadline to request an absentee ballot is Aug. 1, although officials have stressed to request one as early as possible to ensure it arrives in a timely manner.

What Ohioans should know about issue 1 You asked, we answered: What Ohioans need to know about the August election on Issue 1

How and where can I vote early in central Ohio?

Early voting dates and times for the August special election are as follows:

  • July 11-14: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

  • July 17-21: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

  • July 24-28: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

  • July 31: 7:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.

  • August 1: 7:30 a.m. - 8:30 p.m.

  • August 2-4: 7:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.

  • August 5: 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.

  • August 6: 1 - 5 p.m.

Key dates for August special election Want to vote in Ohio's August special election? Here are key dates to know

Polling locations for early voting in the Central Ohio area are as follows:

  • Franklin County: Franklin County Board of Elections; 1700 Morse Rd. Columbus OH, 43229

  • Delaware County: Delaware County Board of Elections; 2079 US Highway 23 N Delaware OH, 43015

  • Union County: Union County Board of Elections; 835 E 5th St. Marysville OH, 43040

  • Licking County: Licking County Board of Elections; 20 S Second St. Newark OH, 43055

  • Madison County: Madison County Board of Elections; 1423 State Route 38 SE London OH, 43140

  • Pickaway County: Pickaway County Board of Elections; 141 West Main St. Circleville OH, 43113

  • Fairfield County: Fairfield County Board of Elections; 951 Liberty Dr. Lancaster OH, 43130

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@arismith02

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Franklin County on first day of Issue 1 voting