MANSFIELD — An estimated 20 to 25 percent of Richland County voters will likely cast ballots in the 2022 general election, according to local elections director Matt Finfgeld.
“That’s 16,000 to 20,000 votes,” he said on Monday, one day before polls open at 6:30 a.m. on Election Day.
Polls will remain open until 7:30 p.m.
That percentage would be slightly lower than even recent off-year elections in Richland County.
2019 — 25.7 percent voter turnout (20,438 votes)
2017 — 30.3 percent (24,937)
2015 — 45.8 percent (36,577) (two county-wide tax issues on the ballot)
2013 — 25 percent (22,304)
2011 — 46.9 percent (41,266) (five school tax issues on the ballot)
2009 — 45.5 percent (39,167) (three state issues on the ballot)
2007 — 33.9 percent (31,116)
In terms of early in-person and absentee voting, which began a month ago, Republican voters were leading Democrats as of Monday morning.
Finfgeld said 2,677 votes have been cast thus far — 2,000 in-person and 672 absentee. Another 226 absentee ballots mailed out had not yet been returned by Monday.
Absentee ballots must be postmarked by today and must be received by the board of elections within 10 days of the election. He said absentee ballots can also be brought to the board of elections office at 1495 W. Longview Ave.
Of ballots cast, 1,332 (49.8 percent) have come from registered Republicans, according to Finfgeld. There have been 962 votes (36 percent) from Democrats, 378 from independents (14 percent) and five from members of the Libertarian Party, he said.
Heading the ballot in Mansfield are four City Council races:
Dunn, Zader competing for Mansfield City Council At-large seat
Diaz, Lawrence competing for Mansfield City Council’s 5th Ward seat
Akuchie, Van Harlingen competing for Mansfield City Council’s 3rd Ward
Burns. Koehler competing for Mansfield City Council’s 1st Ward seat
Click here to watch the Richland Source “Meet the Candidates” night video, featuring all eight City Council candidates
Click here to read all of the Richland Source pre-election preview stories.
