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LISBON -- More than 15% of the registered voters have already cast ballots in Columbiana County less than a week before Election Day, with in-office voting this weekend expected to be busy.
"I look for heavy turnout to come this weekend," county Board of Elections Director Kim Fusco said when contacted Tuesday, the last day the board could issue an absentee ballot.
Since starting Oct. 6, the in-office voting at the election board office, 7989 Dickey Drive, Suite 3, Lisbon, has been steady.
The schedule continues from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. today, Thursday and Friday, then 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, which is the last day to vote in person before Election Day, Nov. 3.
As for the numbers, she said 7,885 ballots had been cast so far, with 4,562 in the office and the rest through the mail. Of the 4,562 in the office, 22 of those were curbside where a staffer goes out to the curb to the voter.
So far, she said 87% of the absentee ballots requested have come back. Absentee voters have until 7:30 p.m. Nov. 3 to get those ballots to the election board office, either through the mail or by dropping them off at the counter or in the 24/7 secure drop box outside of the office.
Fusco said she's had two workers at the counter and will add a third for the weekend.
She adjusted her prediction for voter turnout, saying it's going to surpass the number from 2022, which was 55%. She again stressed that absentee ballots must be in the office by 7:30 p.m. Election Day to count. It doesn't matter if it's postmarked before the election -- it doesn't count if the ballot isn't physically in the office on Nov. 3.
The only exception will be overseas/military ballots.