Franklin County voters have cast more than 58,000 early in-person ballots, the most of any county in Ohio, as statewide early voting outpaces 2022 midterm levels.

The county's total leads all 88 Ohio counties, according to Ohio Secretary of State data cited by 10TV. Hilliard residents vote through the Franklin County Board of Elections, meaning the county's numbers reflect local turnout. Statewide, nearly 1.2 million Ohioans have voted early, 373,000 more than at the same point during the 2022 midterm.

Antone White, director of the Franklin County Board of Elections, said the Morse Road office is processing about 600 voters per hour.

"We're voting about 600 people an hour, so the process is very efficient," White told 10TV on Tuesday, Oct. 27.

Hundreds of people stood in line outside the board of elections building that day. 10TV followed one voter, Tina Thomas-Manning, from the back of the line through the entire voting process. Her total time from arrival to finished ballot: one hour and 10 minutes.

The early in-person pace in Franklin County is running well ahead of recent midterms. As of Oct. 22, nearly 44,500 people had voted early in person, the Columbus Dispatch reported. White told the Dispatch he expected the early in-person total to more than double the 48,000 cast during all of 2022's early voting period.

Across Ohio, the early vote is tilting older and unaffiliated. Voters 65 and older have cast 647,939 ballots, the largest share of any age group, according to secretary of state data cited by 10TV. More than 499,000 ballots have come from voters with no party affiliation, outpacing both Democrats and Republicans at this stage.

NBC4 reported that Secretary of State Frank LaRose said 2026 could set a record for early and absentee voting in a gubernatorial election. One week from Election Day, 68% of requested absentee ballots had been returned statewide, NBC4 reported.

Oct. 27 was the last day to request an absentee ballot. LaRose said voters who still have an unreturned ballot should deliver it directly to their county board of elections, according to NBC4.

Early in-person voting at the Franklin County Board of Elections on Morse Road continues through Sunday, Nov. 1. The board of elections reminds voters to bring an accepted, unexpired photo ID. The remaining schedule, per the board of elections website:

  • Wednesday, Oct. 28 through Friday, Oct. 30: 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
  • Saturday, Oct. 31: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Sunday, Nov. 1: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. Most absentee ballots must reach the county board of elections by 7:30 p.m. Nov. 3; separate rules apply to military and overseas voters.