Turnout for the May 6 primary election, with every Ohio voter eligible to cast ballots because of a statewide issue, is expected to be very low in Mahoning and Trumbull counties, election directors said.

“It’s unfortunate, but for too many years in a row I’ve seen the races that affect your everyday life don’t bring out the turnout that they should get,” said Stephanie Penrose, director of the Trumbull County Board of Elections.

With early voting starting Tuesday, Penrose said she predicts overall turnout for the May 6 primary in Trumbull to be between 10% and 15%.

“And I’m not feeling too confident about that,” she said.

Tom McCabe, director of the Mahoning County Board of Elections, expects turnout in his county to be about 10% to 12%.

“I don’t expect much more than that based on other odd-year primaries,” he said. “It’s going to be a slow election.”

The only partisan elections in Mahoning County are Democratic primaries in Youngstown for mayor and council president.

Tax issues are on the ballot in Austintown, Craig Beach, Lowellville and the Poland school district, along with four liquor options.

Turnout should be a little higher in Youngstown, but not by much, McCabe said.

The state Legislature decided to put Issue 2 on the May 6 ballot. That means every voter in Ohio is eligible to cast a ballot.

If approved, the issue would permit Ohio to renew up to $2.5 billion in general obligation bonds, or $250 million a year, to assist local governments in funding infrastructure improvement projects.

The State Capital Improvement Program was first approved in 1987 by voters.

“People don’t know it’s on the ballot,” McCabe said of Issue 2.

“I don’t think anyone knows about this infrastructure issue that is on the statewide ballot,” Penrose said. “No one is talking about Issue 2.”

There are contested Democratic council races in Warren, Niles and Girard as well as eight tax issues — including additional levies in Champion and Vienna — and one liquor option on the May 6 ballot in Trumbull County.

“Turnout in Champion and Vienna should be good, but I’m not expecting much in Warren, Niles and Girard,” Penrose said.

Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose said: “We anticipate turnout to be relatively low” statewide.

EARLY VOTING

Early voting for this primary starts Tuesday.

Early in-person voting will take place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday to Friday.

It also runs 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 14 to 18 as well as April 21 to 25.

Early in-person voting will be available 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. April 28, 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. April 29, and 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. April 30 to May 2.

It is 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 3, the Saturday before the primary, and 1 to 5 p.m. May 4, the Sunday before the primary.

The Trumbull office is at 2947 Youngstown Road SE, Warren.

The Mahoning office is at Oakhill Renaissance Place, 345 Oak Hill Ave., Youngstown.

Absentee ballots must be postmarked by May 5, the day before the primary, and have to arrive no later than May 10, four days after the primary to be counted.

County election boards in Ohio will remain open until 9 p.m. Monday to allow people to register to vote in the upcoming primary election if they aren’t already registered voters. It’s the final day to do so.

To register in person, you need either your driver’s license number or state ID and the last four digits of your Social Security number.

People can also register online at voteohio.gov, the Ohio secretary of state’s website, by 9 p.m. Monday.

VOTER ID

An approved photo identification is needed to vote early in-person and at the polling locations.

To vote those ways, a person needs one of the following: a driver’s license, a state ID card, a passport, a passport card or a military ID.

Those who vote by mail can use either their driver’s license ID number or the last four digits of their Social Security number.

A state law, which took effect with the May 2023 election, eliminated a number of forms of ID that were previously acceptable. That included bank statements, utility bills, pay stubs, government checks and the last four digits of a person’s Social Security number.

Voter turnout

The voter turnout for odd-year primaries in Mahoning and Trumbull counties

2023

Mahoning: 9.82%

Trumbull: 15.42%

2021

Mahoning: 13.99%

Trumbull: 8.87%

2019

Mahoning: 10.77%

Trumbull: 14.68%

2017

Mahoning: 19.34%

Trumbull: 15.86%

Source: County boards of elections