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Midterm Elections Could Draw Larger Than Normal Turnout

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Midterm and off-year elections are notorious for low voter participation. But the November 6 election could tell a different story. Some polls indicate a high level of interest among voters who identify with both parties. This year, Republican and Democratic voters will decide several close Ohio races for U.S. House and Senate seats.

As of October, more than 900,000 early absentee ballots were requested across the state of Ohio. Another 34,000 voters have already cast ballots in person at their local boards of elections.

“We have gotten a lot of phone calls,” says Llyn McCoy, director of the Greene County Board of Elections. “We’re seeing people request absentee ballots that have never done that before or maybe haven't voted for awhile.

McCoy says if early indicators prove correct and voters do turn out in high numbers on November 6, their poll workers will be ready.

“So we're hoping that all that interest in registrations and the young people that are interested are translating to people that are voting early, by absentee or going to the polls on election day.” 

McCoy says they have no major security concerns for Election Day. And says poll workers have been trained on a number of scenarios, including problems with current voting machines.

Both Greene and Montgomery County are looking at replacing their voting machines in the next year.

Jerry began volunteering at WYSO in 1991 and hosting Sunday night's Alpha Rhythms in 1992. He joined the YSO staff in 2007 as Morning Edition Host, then All Things Considered. He's hosted Sunday morning's WYSO Weekend since 2008 and produced several radio dramas and specials . In 2009 Jerry received the Best Feature award from Public Radio News Directors Inc., and was named the 2023 winner of the Ohio Associated Press Media Editors Best Anchor/News Host award. His current, heart-felt projects include the occasional series Bulletin Board Diaries, which focuses on local, old-school advertisers and small business owners. He has also returned as the co-host Alpha Rhythms.