Unusually high turnout expected for election on Ohio Issue 1, Issue 2, railroad sale

Early voting turnout in this odd-year election has revealed how odd it's been.

More than 57,000 people in Hamilton County have already cast their votes after Sunday, the last day of early voting, according to the Hamilton County Board of Elections.

That's more than double the amount of people who cast early votes in 2021 and 2019.

Voter guide 2023: Everything you need to know to vote in Ohio

More: What's on the ballot in Greater Cincinnati? Here's a rundown of the top issues, races

When polls close Tuesday, the Hamilton County Board of Elections predicts 40% to 45% of voters in the county will have turned out. That is significantly higher than the general election in 2021, when 27% of Hamilton County's voters cast ballots, and 2019, when 29% came out.

In the northern suburbs, election officials are predicting similar turnouts based on early voting numbers. In Warren County, where 24,700 people cast early ballots compared to 9,400 two years ago, the turnout is also predicted to be between 40% and 50%, Brian Sleeth, Warren County's director of elections, wrote in an email to The Enquirer. In Butler County, election officials put the prediction between 35% and 45%.

Both acknowledged this year is hard to predict.

A combination of high-profile local and statewide issues will fill the ballot. Across Ohio, voters will decide on abortion rights, which is Issue 1, and the legalization of marijuana, which is Issue 2.

In Cincinnati, voters on Issue 22 will make a momentous real estate decision: whether to sell the Cincinnati Southern Railway for $1.6 billion to pay for infrastructure in perpetuity.

Early voting ended Sunday in Ohio

There's no early voting on Monday. Absentee ballots must be postmarked by Monday, Nov. 6, and arrive within four days of Election Day in order to be counted. You can also return your absentee ballot in person to your county board of elections before the close of the polls at 7:30 p.m. on Election Day.

Polls will be open Tuesday from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Ballots returned by mail must be postmarked no later than Monday, Nov. 6. Ohio law requires voters have a photo ID when voting in person.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Early voting ends in Ohio, high turnout expected