By JAN McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Some came to vote early on Tuesday for convenience, some were worried about election fraud, and one said she always votes on the first day of early voting. She checked Ohio election law to make sure her vote would be valid – even if some disaster befell her.
The line of early voters in the atrium of the Wood County Courthouse Complex was steady throughout the first day of early voting in Ohio. When the polls closed at 5 p.m., 754 local residents had cast their ballots on the 13 voting machines set up in the atrium.
That’s more than the first day of early voting during the 2020 presidential election, when 729 ballots were cast, according to Terry Burton, director of the Wood County Board of Elections.
“It’s been steady,” Burton said as he watched over the line of people waiting to vote. The average wait on Tuesday was 15 minutes, he said. “People are being patient.”
This year the early voting has been separated from the foot traffic for the courthouse and the county office building. A temporary wall has been erected between the walkway and the glass atrium, with the goal of making the voting area a little more quiet and less hectic.
Burton has some high expectations for early voting numbers this year. In 2020, approximately 20,000 Wood County residents cast early ballots.
“I think we could hit that number, and maybe exceed it,” he said.
“Some people feel the need to vote on Election Day,” Burton said. “People need to do what works for them.”
But as early voting catches on, fewer people seem to be diehard Election Day voters. They have found early voting to be convenient and easy to do, Burton said.
“People have discovered it and they like it,” he said. “They can do it on their own schedule.”
For first time voter Nathalie Rawlins, of Perrysburg, early voting allowed her to weigh in on candidates and issues while she was home from college at the University of Cincinnati.
“I grew up watching my parents and grandparents do it – and now I did it myself. It was exciting,” Rawlins said, showing her voting sticker.
Jerald Baumgardner, 88 years old, has had plenty of experience voting. And he prefers the option of voting early.
“I’ve got a fairly busy life, and it’s so well run,” said Baumgardner, of Bowling Green.
And this is an election he definitely didn’t want to miss.
“I’m very concerned about this election,” he said.
Ron and Mary Ann Sparrowe, from Perrysburg Township, wanted to vote on the first day of early voting.
“I want to get my ballot counted right away,” Ron Sparrowe said. As a tractor trailer driver, he said he didn’t want to take the chance of something happening to him before he weighed in on the election. “You never know what’s going to happen.”
As he waited for his wife to finish voting, Ron said the two of them are voting the same on every issue.
“We agree or we wouldn’t get along,” he said.
Mary Ann Sparrowe said her concerns about voting security spurred her to vote early.
“I want to make sure I get my vote in. I’m afraid of the fraud,” she said.
Early voting will continue in the courthouse atrium up through Nov. 3, during the following hours:
Oct. 8-11 from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Oct. 14-18 from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Oct. 21-25 from 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Oct. 26 from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Oct 27 from 1 – 5 p.m.
Oct 28 from 7:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 29 from 7:30 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Oct. 30 – Nov. 1 from 7:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 2 from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Nov. 3 from 1 – 5 p.m.
