Ohio Vote Certified With Record Turnout, All-Time High For Early Voting

The results of the 2020 vote in Ohio have been officially certified as the highest turnout ever, with early three-quarters of all registered voters casting ballots.

The 74 percent turnout is lower than  the all-time percentage high of 77 percent in 1992. But it is the biggest total vote count: almost 6 million voters – more than 200,000 more than the standing record from 2008.

And while President Donald Trump’s margin of victory over President-elect Joe Biden was slightly lower in Ohio than for Trump's 2016 win, all 88 counties had a higher turnout. More than 58 percent were early votes, compared to around  one-third in 2016.

Of the absentee ballots that were requested, 94 percent were returned, the highest percentage since early no-fault absentee voting became available in 2006.

Ohio’s 18 presidential electors, all pledged to Trump, are to cast their ballots on Dec. 14, and Gov. Mike DeWine on Friday signed Ohio’s Certificate of Ascertainment showing the most popular votes — 3,154,834 —  were cast for Trump, according to a press release.

“I want to thank Ohio voters for exercising their right to vote, as well as all of our poll workers, local election officials, and Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose for a smooth democratic election process in Ohio,” DeWine said Friday in the release.

Around the state, a few races and ballot issues remain unofficial pending recounts, including Columbus-area Republican state Sen. Stephanie Kunze’s win over Democrat Crystal Lett and a  proposed levy increase for the Cleveland Heights-University Heights City School District 

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