Ohio Reports 228,470 Early Ballots Cast as November 3 Election Approaches

By SNN Newsroom | October 15, 2026

Ohio election officials reported that 228,470 ballots had been cast early for the November 3 general election as of October 13, according to statewide data gathered from the state’s 88 county boards of elections.

The Ohio Secretary of State’s office broke that total into 194,841 early in-person ballots and 33,629 returned absentee ballots. The figures describe ballots recorded through October 13, not final turnout, and do not reveal voters’ candidate selections.

The figures were announced by Secretary of State Frank LaRose on October 13. County-specific and additional demographic figures are available through the state’s Absentee and Early Voting Data Dashboard, which officials say is updated throughout early voting. Those later figures may supersede the totals reported here.

What Ohio voters need to know

Ohio’s early in-person voting began October 6 and continues through November 1, with locations and operating hours available through county election boards and the official VoteOhio.gov information portal. Ohio’s voter-registration deadline for the general election was October 5.

For voters returning absentee ballots, the Secretary of State’s guidance states that regular absentee ballots must be received by the voter’s county board of elections by 7:30 p.m. on November 3. A postmark alone does not meet that receipt deadline. Voters can use the state’s ballot-tracking resources to check on their ballots.

Election Day polling places will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. statewide on November 3. Voters should verify their assigned polling location and current requirements using official sources.

Early turnout figures are a measure of participation at a specific point in time. Without accounting for changes in registration, voting method and election conditions, they should not be interpreted as a reliable forecast of final turnout or the outcome of individual races.

Official sources: Ohio Secretary of State, October 13 early-ballot report; October 5 election calendar and voting guidance; Ohio election data portal.