MIAMI VALLEY — The November election is just two weeks from Tuesday, Oct. 24.
>>Early voting underway for November election; What you need to know about both state issues
Local Boards of Elections have told News Center 7 that they are seeing high early voting numbers this election cycle.
News Center 7′s John Bedell looked at how many poll workers Miami Valley counties need to be staffed for Nov. 7.
In-person early voting in Ohio began on Oct. 11, and since then, various boards of elections said the turnout has been high.
People vote early for various reasons, some related to time constraints and others related to work schedules.
“Because the lines are short. Yeah, it’s quicker,” Miami County resident Ralph Medina said.
2023 is considered an off-year election in Ohio, but people throughout the state are showing up to vote on issues important to them.
Local boards of elections say the turnout for early voting is similar to what they see when Ohioans are electing a governor.
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Elections executives think the two issues on the ballot are driving early election turnout.
Issue 1 would “establish in the Constitution of the State of Ohio an individual right to one’s own reproductive medical treatment, including but not limited to abortion;” according to the ballot language.
Issue 2 would be the legalization of recreational use of marijuana and for it to be regulated like alcohol.
“They are two very important issues, they’re moral issues. They’re issues that the country should be concerned about,” Medina said.
As Nov. 7 is approaching, News Center 7 polled some of Miami Valley’s Board of Election directors about how they are doing on poll worker staffing.
Greene County’s director said they are “completely full.”
In Montgomery County, the Board of Elections Director Jeff Rezabek said they are “getting to be fully staffed.”
“We have met our minimum numbers and we met them a while ago. Great staff down here getting that done,” Rezabek said.
>>New poll shows Ohio voters favor passage of contested issues on November ballot
Miami County Board of Elections Director Laura Burn said they need another 17 people to be fully staffed for the election.
“We would like to train well over the number that we need so that we have people on reserve in case we have a lot of people call off. So we do like to have extra people,” Burns said.
Clark County Board of Elections Director Jason Baker said they are recruiting poll workers year-round.
“As of right now. I do believe we’re setting decent for November 7th,” Baker said.
To become a poll worker in the county where you’re registered to vote, visit the Ohio Secretary of State’s website.
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