COLUMBUS – Ohio’s elections chief says voters have requested more than 1.4 million absentee ballots so far, with two weeks remaining before the Nov. 8 presidential election.
That’s fewer than the roughly 1.6 million ballots requested by this point in the 2012 election, Republican Secretary of State Jon Husted said.
Early voting is underway in the perennial presidential battleground. Ohioans can vote absentee by mail or in person without having to give a reason.
Candidates and surrogates continue to court voters in the key battleground seat: Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is due to appear in Springfield and Toledo on Thursday while his vice presidential candidate Mike Pence is headed to Swanton, Ashland and Marietta Tuesday.
Chelsea Clinton will campaign for her mom in Grove City, Cincinnati and Solon Wednesday. Hillary Clinton’s running mate, Sen. Tim Kaine, will be at events in the Cleveland and Columbus areas Thursday. Grammy-winning rapper Jay Z will hold a “Get Out The Vote Concert” for Clinton in Cleveland Friday, Nov. 4.
Of the absentee ballots requested by mail, Husted’s office says about 344,000 have been cast and another 165,000 have been handed over in person. That’s fewer than the more than 800,000 ballots cast by this point in 2012, the first-ever statewide mailing of absentee ballot applications. Husted’s office says the record 1.87 million absentee ballots cast by mail and in person in 2012 represented a third of all votes.
Voters can still request an absentee ballot by mail. Elections boards must receive such applications by noon on Nov. 5. Completed absentee ballots must be postmarked by Nov. 7.