COLUMBUS (AP) — Ohio’s elections chief says an estimated 1.2 million absentee ballots have been requested and more than 737,000 absentee ballots cast so far for next Tuesday’s midterm election.
The Ohio Secretary of State’s Office says those tallies as of last Friday are up compared with the same point in the 2014 election, when more than 881,000 absentee ballots had been requested and 477,000 had been cast.
The number of absentee ballots requested in 27 percent higher than at the same time four years ago and the number that have been returned was greater by about 35 percent.
Ohioans can vote absentee by mail or in person ahead of Election Day, which is Nov. 6.
Voters are deciding races for governor, a U.S. Senate seat, other statewide offices and a statewide drug sentencing issue, in addition to a slew of local issues.
President Donald Trump plans a stop in Cleveland as part of a last-minute pre-election swing through several states.
Ohio’s governor’s race is close and a there are a pair of tight congressional campaigns in the state.
The Republican president will be in Cleveland the afternoon of Nov. 5, the day before the election, with other stops planned that day in Indiana and Missouri. He plans stops in Georgia and Tennessee the day before.
Republican Attorney General Mike DeWine faces Democrat Richard Cordray, the former Consumer Fraud Protection Bureau chief, in a governor’s race considered a toss-up.
Races in traditionally red congressional seats in the Cincinnati and Columbus areas are also close.