It appears Trumbull County is already breaking a record this election year.
Board of Elections officials said this year 9,585 people cast their ballots prior to Election Day. That is more than double the prior record in odd-year elections set four years ago when about 4,000 people voted early.
Board officials said the early voting could be due to a number of reasons, such as the fact people are more aware that they can vote before Election Day. Craig Bonar, elections board member, said officials believe it's because of the interest in state Issue 2 and Issue 3.
"The agricultural people have put out paperwork to increase the number of absentee and early voting," he said.
There are also several local races generating interest, including levies in several school districts and a hotly-contested race for trustees in Howland Township. Poll workers said voters have been arriving in a steady stream since early this morning.
But, elections board officials don't expect too heavy of turnout. "If you take the average over the last four odd-year general elections, we would be at 40 percent turnout," said Kelly Pallante, director of the Trumbull County Elections Board. "I think the early voting won't make it that much different. It is just a different way for people to cast their ballots."
