No lines forecast for voting booths

YOUNGSTOWN — Don’t worry about long waits Tuesday at polling locations in the Mahoning Valley.

Because of early voting, a decent percentage of ballots have already been cast, said boards of elections directors in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties.

“I really don’t think there will be long lines” at polling locations Tuesday, said Kim Meek, Columbiana board of elections director. “I don’t expect people to have delays” voting at the polls.

The three counties reported record early voting/absentee balloting for an odd-year election.

Despite the record numbers, overall turnout will be up, but not significantly, in Trumbull and Columbiana compared to 2007 and slightly down in Mahoning, elections directors predict.

Early voting “adjusts how people vote,” said Kelly Pallante, that county’s elections board director. “It doesn’t necessary increase overall turnout.”

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