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First Weekend Of Early In-Person Voting In Ohio Wraps, With Both Parties Working To Motivate Voters

Karen Kasler
Voters cast ballots at the Franklin County Board of Elections in Columbus on the first weekend of in-person early voting.

Polls show the presidential race is close in Ohio – a key swing state that voted for President Obama in the last two elections. This weekend was the first of two weekend of early in person voting, and it had both major political parties working to turn out their voters. The numbers aren’t in yet, but early in person voting tends to favor Democrats. Ohio Democratic Party chair David Pepper said he likes what he’s seen so far. “We’re seeing a nice margin where our voters are out-voting their voters by a good amount both in person and by mail," said Pepper.

But Ohio Republican Party chair Matt Borges said he’s feeling confident, and notes Mitt Romney won Election Day in Ohio in 2012. “If we can continue to have increases in what we know we need to do in the early vote, then we can make sure that Election Day lead stands up,” Borges said.

Absentee voting is down for both Republicans and Democrats compared to 2012, though stats from the Secretary of State’s office show the numbers before this weekend were down further in counties that President Obama won than those that went to Romney.

Contact Karen at 614-578-6375 or at kkasler@statehousenews.org.
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