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Medina County elections office reports low early turnout, extended hours and ballot deadlines ahead of special primary
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Summary
Medina County Board of Elections staff said early voting is under way and turnout is "just under 4%" so far for the special primary, urged residents to return 886 outstanding mail ballots and outlined expanded early-vote hours and absentee deadlines ahead of election day.
Medina County Board of Elections Director Heather McDermott told commissioners the office is seven days from a special primary and currently seeing very low early turnout. "We are only at, just under 4% turnout," she said, adding officials expect early/absentee turnout of 7–10% and total primary turnout below 30%.
McDermott said early voting at the board office (3800 Stonegate Drive, Suite C) has extended hours (7:30 a.m.–7:30 p.m. on weekdays, with some days open later) and that today — the last day to submit absentee ballot applications or hand-deliver completed absentee ballots — ballots can be returned until 8:30 p.m. She said the office is tracking 886 ballots by mail that have not yet been returned.
The board advised residents that only 33 precincts will have questions/issues ballots in this election and explained how voters who do not see a partisan primary ballot at the polls may request a party ballot at the board office. McDermott also reviewed weekend early-vote hours (Saturday 8 a.m.–4 p.m.; Sunday 1–5 p.m.) and reminded voters that polls open 6:30 a.m.–7:30 p.m. on election day.
McDermott noted a separate, pending procedural item related to the budget commission process and said the county is working with the secretary of state and prosecutor’s office to ensure compliance with the Ohio Revised Code on a petition that is being developed and expected after the election. She referenced the Ohio Questions and Issues Handbook and Ohio Revised Code and recommended those seeking to place future issues on the ballot consult the secretary of state's guidance.
Why it matters: With hundreds of outstanding mail ballots and turnout running below typical averages for early voting, the board’s reminders and expanded hours are intended to reduce ballot drop-off friction while educating voters about precinct-specific ballot availability for this special primary. The next immediate step is election day, when voters who have not used early voting must vote at their assigned polling location.
Speakers quoted: Heather McDermott, Board of Elections Director.
Next steps: The Board of Elections will continue early voting through the announced hours, process absentee returns, and report final turnout after polls close on election day.
