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LISBON — With a steady stream of voters casting ballots early, both in person and by mail, Columbiana County election officials are expecting a voter turnout of 40% or more.
“I think we’re going to be higher than August,” county Board of Elections Director Kim Fusco said.
The general election ballot in the county includes two major state constitutional amendments, one related to abortion and one related to legalizing recreational marijuana, along with several major mayoral races, council contests, township races and lots of local levies and liquor options.
Voters have a lot of choices to make this time around. The August special election only had one question on the ballot, asking voters to decide whether they wanted to change the percentage needed to pass a state constitutional amendment from a simple majority to 60 percent. The voters said no, so all that’s needed for passage of the two state issues on Tuesday’s ballot is a simple majority of 50 percent plus one. The turnout for the August election as of Election Day was 39 percent.
Like in August, the in office voting has been bringing in a lot of voters.
“We’re busy,” Fusco said.
Early in person voting at the county Board of Elections office in Lisbon ended Sunday.
Absentee ballots must be returned by mail postmarked on or before Nov. 6 or in person at the board of elections by 7:30 p.m. Nov. 7.
As of Wednesday, the number of ballots cast totaled 3,147, with 1,955 in the office and 1,192 by mail. That number was expected to rise in the last days of in person voting.
The board planned to meet at 10 a.m. today for any last-minute decisions to be made before Election Day.
To learn more about the elections, visit the board of elections website at columbiana.boe.ohio.gov.
mgreier@mojonews.com
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