Early in-person voting in Hamilton County has more than doubled compared to the 2022 midterm, with the biggest jump among unaffiliated voters, according to Board of Elections data first reported by WLWT.
Through the first eight days of early voting, Democratic ballots are up 158%, Republican ballots are up 106% and unaffiliated ballots are up 208% over the same period in 2022. The Nov. 3 ballot includes the Sycamore Community Schools 6.95-mill levy, an open Ohio Senate District 7 race and a Hamilton County children's services levy renewal and increase.
The trend stretches across the region. In Butler County, more than 11,000 residents cast early in-person ballots in the first eight days, more than double the 2022 pace, WLWT reported. Clermont County and Warren County also posted gains.
Nicole Unzicker, director of the Butler County Board of Elections, said the shift is clear but cautioned against reading too much into it.
"I think that as more information gets out about early in-person voting, it seems to become a little bit more popular amongst the voters," Unzicker told WLWT.
At the same time, mail-in voting is declining. Butler County's mail ballots are down nearly 30% as voters move to in-person options. Unzicker said it is too early to predict what the early surge will mean for overall turnout. Butler County historically sees about 50% turnout in gubernatorial elections; Unzicker said she would love to see that climb to 55% or 60%.
Statewide, the picture is similar. Ohio's early in-person voting had drawn roughly 195,000 ballots through the fifth day, nearly four times the approximately 50,000 at the same point in 2022, according to Ohio Secretary of State data reported by MS NOW. High-profile statewide races are drawing attention, though the early numbers alone do not establish what is driving more Ohioans to the polls.
Locally, the Sycamore levy would generate nearly $18 million a year in new revenue, according to WVXU. About 85% of the district's funding comes from local millage, and without a new levy, administrators expect a negative cash balance by fiscal year 2029.
The Senate District 7 seat is open after term limits prevented state Sen. Steve Wilson from running again. Republican Zac Haines of Symmes Township, CEO of Blue Ash marketing agency DPA Buying Group, faces Montgomery Democrat Cara Jacob, a neurologist with the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, according to the Lexington Herald-Leader. The district covers Warren County and northern Hamilton County and carries a 60% Republican lean, according to Dave's Redistricting analysis.
Early in-person voting continues at county boards of elections ahead of the Nov. 3 election.
