Early in-person voting for the November 3 general election enters its final week in Franklin County on Monday, October 26, with extended hours at the Franklin County Board of Elections, 1700 Morse Road in Columbus — the county’s only early voting location.
Extended hours begin Monday, with voting from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on October 26. Tuesday, October 27 runs 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., and Wednesday through Friday, October 28–30, run 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Early voting closes out with Saturday, October 31 hours of 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and a final session on Sunday, November 1 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Turnout is already running well ahead of recent midterms. According to Ohio Secretary of State data reported last week, more than 88,000 Franklin County residents had voted early — nearly 44,500 in person and nearly 44,000 by mail as of October 22 — a pace Board of Elections Director Antone White said exceeds the 2022 and 2018 midterm cycles. Statewide, more than 920,000 Ohioans had cast ballots at that point.
The board began mailing 68,515 absentee ballots on October 6 to Franklin County voters who submitted valid applications. Voters who still want to vote by mail face a hard deadline: absentee ballot applications must reach the board by Tuesday, October 27.
Ohio law now requires absentee ballots to be received by the board no later than 7:30 p.m. on Election Day, November 3 — the former postmark grace period no longer applies. Completed ballots can also be returned in person at 1700 Morse Road, including through the secure 24-hour drop box outside the board office.
“Voters can begin casting their ballots at our office, and we will begin mailing ballots to voters with valid applications,” White said as early voting opened. “Before you vote, take a look at your sample ballot so you know what will be on it.”
Voters can check their registration, view a sample ballot, find their Election Day polling location and track an absentee ballot at vote.franklincountyohio.gov. On Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, polls across Ohio will be open from 6:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m.
Photo: Kristin Wolff, CC BY