Election directors in Mahoning and Trumbull counties expect very poor turnout — even worse than usual for an odd-year election — with voters showing little interest in local races.

Stephanie Penrose, director of the Trumbull County Board of Elections, expects turnout for the general election in her county to be 20%.

Tom McCabe, director of the Mahoning County Board of Elections, predicts turnout in his county to be 22%.

The election, with early voting starting Tuesday, includes local issues as well as candidates for school boards seats, township trustees, and some village and city councils. Nov. 4 is Election Day.

What it doesn’t include are any state or federal races nor are any statewide issues on the ballot.

“There are only a few places with additional levies on the ballot that will drive turnout there a little bit,” Penrose said.

Penrose said of local elections: “It’s the people who affect your everyday life the most deciding on road construction, police and fire — and there’s still not a lot of interest in the election.”

McCabe added: “This is your school board, trustees, councils and mayor. This is where your daily life is impacted. People just aren’t engaged. Every two years we have the same conversation. People are not engaged. We’re also not seeing many new registrations, which is how we also base turnout. There is still time for people to get interested, but turnout is low in these elections.”

Turnout was up statewide in 2023 when two statewide issues were on the ballot: an abortion rights constitutional amendment and legalization of recreational marijuana for adults. Both issues passed.

In 2023, turnout was 47.81% in Mahoning and 48.83% in Trumbull.

That was almost twice the Mahoning turnout in 2021 of 25.07% and more than double the 22.37% turnout in Trumbull.

It was also close to the turnout in the 2022 election for statewide officeholders. Turnout that year was 53.17% in Mahoning and 54.14% in Trumbull.

Valley voters – as well as those throughout Ohio – come out in larger numbers for presidential elections.

In the 2024 presidential election, turnout was 70.03% in Mahoning and 69.53% in Trumbull.

EARLY VOTING

Early in-person voting takes place at county boards of elections 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday to Friday.

It also runs 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 14 to 17 and Oct. 20 to 24. There is no early voting Oct. 13 because of Columbus Day, a federal holiday.

It resumes 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 27, 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Oct. 28 and 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 29-31.

Early voting on Nov. 1, the Saturday before the Nov. 4 election, runs from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

It is 1 to 5 p.m. Nov. 2.

The Trumbull office is at 2947 Youngstown Road SE, Warren. The Mahoning office is at Oakhill Renaissance Place, 345 Oak Hill Ave., Youngstown.

Polling locations are open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Nov. 4.

VOTING INFORMATION

A photo identification is needed to vote early in-person or on Election Day.

To vote, a person needs one of the following: a driver’s license, a state ID card, a passport, a passport card or a military ID.

But those who request absentee ballots by mail can use either their driver’s license ID number or the last four digits of their Social Security number to vote.

Also, requests for absentee ballots must be received by boards of elections seven days before the election.

Those mailing back absentee ballots still have to have them postmarked by the Monday before the election, but they have to arrive no later than four days after the election.

REGISTRATION DEADLINE

County election boards in Ohio will remain open until 9 p.m. Monday to allow people to register to vote in the upcoming primary election if they aren’t already registered voters. It’s the final day to do so.

To register in person, you need either your driver’s license number or state ID and the last four digits of your Social Security number.

People can also register online at voteohio.gov, the Ohio secretary of state’s website, by 9 p.m. Tuesday.