Ohio Early Voting Surges Past 2022 Levels, Setting Midterm Record
Ohio voters have turned out in record numbers for early in-person voting ahead of the 2026 midterm election, with more than 1 million ballots cast statewide before Election Day. According to Secretary of State Frank LaRose, the final early vote total broke the record for the highest turnout ever for a midterm election. In Lucas County alone, early in-person voting more than doubled compared to 2022, with 40,878 ballots cast early this year versus nearly 19,000 in 2022. Statewide, more than 1.7 million Ohioans will have already voted by the time polls open on Tuesday.
The surge in early voting is partly attributed to concerns about mail delivery under the Trump administration. “A lot of folks were spooked by the headlines from the Trump administration about how they might monkey with mail delivery and specifically with delivery of ballots,” said David Niven, a political scientist at the University of Cincinnati. This anxiety appears to have driven many voters to cast their ballots in person early rather than rely on the postal service.
Data from the Ohio Secretary of State’s office shows Democrats significantly outperforming Republicans in early returns, with Democratic-affiliated voters in some counties casting ballots at nearly four times their 2022 pace. However, analysts urge caution in interpreting these numbers, as early voting patterns can shift and may not predict final outcomes. This year’s midterm race is also significantly more expensive than its 2022 counterpart, with key statewide offices and congressional seats up for grabs.
The record early turnout underscores the heightened engagement of Ohio voters in this midterm election. With Election Day on Tuesday, the final tallies will reveal whether this enthusiasm translates into a decisive advantage for either party. For now, the numbers suggest that Ohioans are eager to make their voices heard, and the state’s election officials are managing an unprecedented volume of early ballots.
Shimanta Das 
