Lucas County’s early vote is up 63% from the comparable point in 2022, according to the Lake Erie Inquiry’s analysis of state data. Through the state update on Oct. 26, 38,672 ballots had been cast in Lucas County, compared with 23,669 at the comparable point in 2022 and 16,951 in 2018.

The increase has been driven by in-person voting. In-person ballots totaled 26,657, compared with 8,765 at the comparable point in 2022 — roughly triple. Mail ballots returned fell to 12,015, from 14,904 in 2022.

At the same time, 10,501 mail ballots issued in Lucas County had not been returned. Lucas County has the lowest mail return rate of the 18 Ohio counties covered in the analysis: 53%, compared with 68% statewide.

There is also a new deadline for most mail ballots. Under Ohio Senate Bill 293, signed Dec. 19, 2025, and effective in March, most mail ballots must arrive by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3, to count. A postmark no longer saves a ballot that arrives after polls close. Military and overseas ballots keep a later deadline.

More than half of those who have voted so far are 65 or older: 21,168 of 38,672. Voters under 35 account for 3,220. By primary-ballot classification — Ohio does not register voters by party — the totals are 17,340 unaffiliated, 15,271 Democrats, 5,956 Republicans and 105 minor-party voters.

Early in-person voting continues 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 1. There is no early voting Monday. The Lucas County voting center is at 3737 W. Sylvania Ave., Entrance C, Toledo. On Election Day, Nov. 3, polls are open 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Elsewhere in the region, Wood County has recorded 13,386 early ballots, up 39%, and Hancock County 8,809, up 58%. The 18 counties together total 130,255, up 49%, while the statewide total is 1,190,461, up 46%.

Source: Lake Erie Inquiry

Photo: Jesse Paul / Unsplash. Illustrative photo of voting booths.