Early voting across southwest Ohio is running at two to three times the 2022 midterm pace. Warren County is part of the surge, first reported by WLWT.

The increase covers Butler, Clermont and Warren counties collectively. WLWT did not break out Warren County's numbers separately, but the regional trend is clear: far more voters are casting ballots in person before Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3, than did four years ago.

In neighboring Hamilton County, the jump is even sharper. There, 9,482 people voted during the first four days of early in-person voting. That is more than two and a half times the 3,616 who voted during the same stretch in 2022, according to WLWT.

Sherry Poland, director of the Hamilton County Board of Elections, said more voters are choosing in-person ballots over mail. She tempered expectations about a record, though.

"I don't think we're looking at a historic turnout. I think it will be a good turnout," Poland said.

Warren County Board of Elections Director Brian Sleeth has not commented publicly on the turnout numbers. In a Monday, Oct. 12, WVXU report on election security, Deputy Director Shari Huff said she treats every voter's ballot with the same care she would want for her own.

Sleeth told WVXU his office runs about 10 "mini elections" as part of the state's logic and accuracy testing to verify machines record votes correctly. Accessing the tabulation room requires both a Republican and a Democrat election official to scan their badges together.

All Warren County early voting takes place at one location: 520 Justice Drive, Lebanon. Hours through Friday, Oct. 16, are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Starting Monday, Oct. 26, weekday hours extend to 7:30 p.m. The final day of early voting is Sunday, Nov. 1, from 1 to 5 p.m.

Two rule changes apply statewide this cycle. Ohio now requires proof of citizenship for anyone registering or updating registration at a Bureau of Motor Vehicles location. The state also eliminated its four-day grace period for mail ballots. Mail ballots must arrive at the Warren County Board of Elections by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 3. The deadline to request an absentee ballot is Tuesday, Oct. 27, at 8:30 p.m., according to the county's election notice.

Polls on Election Day open at 6:30 a.m. and close at 7:30 p.m. Ohio boards of elections have 21 days after an election to certify results, according to WVXU.