Polls across Ohio closed at 7:30 p.m. The Butler County Board of Elections expects early results to begin posting on its website around 8 p.m.
Voters were waiting in line when the polls opened Tuesday at the BOE headquarters on Princeton Road and other locations. Voting was steady all day.
Warren County Elections Director Brian Sleeth said at 5:34 p.m. there were hour-long lines at Towne Mall precincts; Crosspointe Church which is on Ohio 122 west of the I-75 interchange at Middletown; and at Carlisle Baptist Tabernacle Church where police are directing traffic.
RESULTS: Winners of local and state races
Historically, Ohio gubernatorial elections result in about 55% voter turnout. BOE director Eric Corbin said they were expecting 55 to 60% turnout.
“Turnout is at 40% right now,” he said at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, “and we’ve got about three hours to go, so we might be in the range we were expecting,” Corbin said.
He said they had some no-show poll workers, but nothing that disrupted voting. All equipment was operating properly except for a booth they had to take out in Fairfield because the legs malfunctioned.
Prior to 2020 they did not have many poll observers — people standing watch to ensure fair elections — but they have a number who showed up today, “this seems to be a new phenomenon.”
Corbin said the first election results should be available on their website by 8:30 p.m. and the numbers will be updated every 30 minutes, per a directive from the state.
Anyone who opted to vote by absentee ballot but did not mail that ballot yet should bring their absentee ballot to their county board of elections drop box by 7:30 p.m. today, according to elections officials, according to Montgomery County BOE deputy director Sarah Greathouse
What’s at stake
Tuesday’s election includes races for U.S. Senate and Congress, the winners of which will make key decisions about the national economy.
It includes battles for top statewide offices, including governor, secretary of state and state Supreme Court at a time when those positions will have a say in how Ohio’s redistricting controversy plays out for years to come.
Locally, residents elected candidates to state legislative seats, at a time when state law on abortion is in flux and could be reset.
And at the closest level to home, the election will decide county leadership positions, plus a litany of city, township and school tax levies that affect residents’ service levels and wallets.
Voter resources
** Voter’s guide: If you still want more information about candidates and issues before you vote, check the Journal-News’ elections page at journal-news.com/elections.
** Tip line: If you see concerns at your polling place, call our newsroom’s tip line at 937-610-7502.
** Other questions: If you need information on how to vote, or how to contact your county board of elections, click the link to this article.
** Results later: Follow journal-news.com for live election results after the polls close at 7:30 p.m., and get full results and coverage Wednesday morning in our ePaper.
