Early voting percentage up in 2014 election

COLUMBUS

A higher percentage of voters cast early ballots in person or through the mail for November’s general election compared to four years ago, according to statistics released Thursday by Secretary of State Jon Husted.

Elections officials also rejected fewer provisional ballots compared to the previous gubernatorial contest.

Statewide, about 3.1 million of 7.8 million registered voters cast ballots in November, a turnout rate of about 41 percent. That compares to about 3.9 million of 8 million-plus registered voters, or 49 percent, in 2010 gubernatorial election.

Of the ballots cast in 2014, more than 864,000 (27.5 percent) were submitted through the mail or in person on early voting days. Most of those (718,925) were mailed.

In 2010, more than 1 million early ballots (26.2 percent) were cast, including 854,000-plus submitted by mail.

For the complete story, please see Friday's Vindicator.