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Election directors in Mahoning and Trumbull counties expect strong turnout for this election, almost entirely because of high-profile gubernatorial and U.S. Senate races.
There were more early voters in Trumbull County by Oct. 24 than the 10,725 early voters in the entire 2022 election, said Stephanie Penrose, that county's board of elections director.
"It's been busy, busy, busy," Penrose said. "Turnout is going to be high. There's no incumbents (for the statewide executive branch seats). People lose interest when there's an incumbent and on top of that, there's contentious races for governor and for senator."
Penrose said she expects turnout for this election to be at least 60%.
"I might be low," she said of her expected turnout.
Tom McCabe, Mahoning County Board of Elections director, said he anticipates turnout in his county to be at least 55%.
He expects to exceed the 32,000 people who voted early in the 2022 election this weekend.
McCabe said: "The interest in the races for governor and senator and the perceived closeness of the races are driving turnout. We like to see it high. We like to see people participate."
The turnout expectations are higher than the results in the two counties, particularly Trumbull, during the last three elections when all of the statewide executive branch seats were on the ballot.
In 2022, turnout in Mahoning County was 53.17% and was 54.14% in Trumbull.
In 2018, it was 54.72% in Mahoning and 53.84% in Trumbull. That was the last time there weren't any incumbents on the ballot for the statewide executive branch seats.
In 2014, turnout was 41.55% in Mahoning and 40.81% in Trumbull.
McCabe said: "The interest level for this election and four years ago is night and day. The governor and Senate races are bringing people out. There are so many pro and con ads on TV. I got six (campaign) text messages yesterday. After a week, all I had in my mailbox was political mail. Look at the activity - the rallies, events - in this area for this election that we didn't get four years ago."
Turnout during the last three presidential elections was higher, which is the norm.
In 2024, it was 70.03% in Mahoning and 69.53% in Trumbull.
In 2020, it was 72.59% in Mahoning and 74.35% in Trumbull. In 2016, turnout was 70.82% in Mahoning and 69.7% in Trumbull.
The last two days of early in-person voting are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday.
The Trumbull office is at 2947 Youngstown Road SE, Warren.
The Mahoning office is at Oakhill Renaissance Place, 345 Oak Hill Ave., Youngstown.
"We'll be busy this weekend," McCabe said. "We'll pack people in on Sunday, which is always busy, but it goes fast."
Penrose said: "We're expecting a busy weekend of early voting. Most days it goes from nothing to outside the door in a few minutes. Lunchtime has been insane."
The polls will be open Nov. 3 from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Penrose and McCabe expect lines to move quickly at polling locations.
But Penrose advised people to know about the candidates and issues before voting to make it go smoother. Of note is the ballot language for state Issue 3 to amend the state constitution to require voters to present photo ID to vote in person. The requirements are the same as the state's current law, but this puts it into the state's constitution.
"If voters aren't prepared and don't know about Issue 3, there could be a bottleneck with people reading the ballot language," Penrose said. "There's a giant poster on the wall at every polling location with the Issue 3 ballot language and people can read it at home. It hasn't happened with early voting, but I want to make sure people are ready. Also, don't forget to bring a valid photo ID when voting."
McCabe said even if there are lines at polling locations Tuesday, people shouldn't expect long waits.
"It goes fast," he said.