TOLEDO, Ohio — Early voting for the 2024 general election has officially closed in Ohio. Thousands of voters cast their ballots across the state before Election Day on November 5th.
According to Lavera Scott, the Lucas County Board of Elections director, the voting center has served over 2,500 people per day since early voting began on October 8.
"I think the benefit is coming out to vote, period," said one early voter, Latoi Stroizer. "If we're coming out early, we're showing we're serious about what we're doing today."
Stoizer said she waited nearly three hours to cast her ballot on Sunday. However, she said she didn't mind the wait because voting early was more convenient for her.
"Come Tuesday, it's going to be really really busy. Everyone's going to try and rush and vote, when today is a calm day and I don't have anything to do," said Stoizer. "You're not gonna get anything done sitting at home, so why not come out, vote early, get it out of the way? That's the best way to do it."
Scott says early voting gives people more options to make their voices heard.
"I think it's more the convenience. People had 28 days, and of course it's the last day of those 28 days, but some people choose to say 'maybe I want to do something else on Election Day'," said Scott. "So for whatever reason people think they should come over, I'm all for it."
The election experience is something second-time voter, Christian Spetz, said he wanted to be a part of.
"A lot of people are out which is super cool to see as well. You can tell how passionate Toledo is about voting no matter which side you're on," said Spetz.
He said not only did he want to vote early to avoid the lines, but he wanted to experience the day with his friends.
"It's the entire moment of being with a bunch of people who feel similarly, as far as like wanting to vote. That part is really interesting," said Spetz. "I wanted to go early because I was like, 'the line is going to be really bad if I go on the day of,' and I bit my tongue on it because it was still really bad on the day of as well for early voting."
Stroizer shared a similar sentiment. She said that voting was a community effort, with everyone there having the same goal of bettering the country.
"We can't just let people come in and take over. We have to get out here and we have to fight for one another. We have to love on one another. We have to show each other that we can do this, as a team. Not as an individual, as a whole," said Stroizer.
It's something Spetz agreed with, saying he has high hopes for the future following the election.
"I think what anybody is hoping for is some sort of peace, some sort of grounding, some sort of community aspect where you're not worried about gas prices and stuff like that," said Spetz.
For those who still need to cast a ballot, polls will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Election Day Tuesday.
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