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People are coming to boards of elections to vote early-in person almost like it's a presidential election, but those requesting ballots by mail have dropped off.
It's a trend happening all over the state, and the examples of Mahoning and Trumbull counties fit into that narrative.
In 2022, the last election for all statewide executive branch seats, the Trumbull County Board of Elections mailed out 17,008 ballots to voters. For this election, it's 10,837 so far -- and that isn't likely to increase by much.
When you look at early in-person votes, Trumbull did 841 on Tuesday, the first day of early voting, and 725 on Wednesday. In comparison, the county had 408 early voters on the first day of early voting in 2022 and 469 on the second day.
In Mahoning County, there were about 22,000 votes cast by mail in 2022. The requests for ballots by mail so far for this election is 13,807.
Early in-person votes on Tuesday, the first day, was 784 and 620 on Wednesday in Mahoning County. That's compared with 334 on the first day of early voting in 2022 and 307 on the second day.
Signal Ohio reported a 26% decline this year compared with the same time in 2022 in requested mail-in ballots.
Meanwhile, in-person voting continues to increase and is now how a majority of early voters cast their ballots.
On the first day of early in-person voting, the numbers were significantly more than four years ago throughout the state.
Stephanie Penrose, director of the Trumbull County Board of Elections, said: "We have seen this in the last four years with a drop in mail-in ballots and people coming here to vote early."
Asked why, Penrose said, "It's so much easier to come here. You scan your own ballot. You don't have to worry about the mail, and it's a confidence issue. You feel confident in the process if you scan your own ballot like you do on Election Day. We count all of the ballots, but some people are leery."
Tom McCabe, director of the Mahoning County Board of Elections, said: "We're seeing the same drop in mail-in requests as the rest of the state. Everyone received an application in the mail. It could be concerns about voting by mail and trust in getting ballots back. It might be concerns about mail."
While the mail can be slow, part of the issue is the Republican-controlled state Legislature passed a bill that took effect with the May primary. It requires all ballots to arrive at county boards of elections no later than 7:30 p.m. on the day of the election.
The only voters who maintain the four-day grace period are those who cast ballots living overseas or in the military.
Previously, absentee ballots had to be postmarked by the day before the primary and arrive no later than four days after the election to be counted.
It's a constant chipping away at mail-in ballot timing -- largely prompted by President Donald Trump who has contended "mail-in ballots are inherently corrupt" despite his use of them.
In Ohio, there was a 10-day grace period for ballots to arrive at boards of elections until it was reduced to four days with the May 2023 election.
With boards of elections not beginning until Tuesday to mail absentee ballots to those who made requests, people waiting to get them and making sure they arrive by Nov. 3, some voters just don't want to take a chance that they won't be counted.
My wife and I have voted in-person for years, particularly during the last week when the hours are extended.
We never have to wait in line and the process is quick.
However you do it -- by mail, in-person early or wait until the Nov. 3 election -- the important thing is to vote.
Turnout is expected to be high for this election.
McCabe expects it to be more than 55% in Mahoning and Penrose predicts close to 60% in Trumbull.
David Skolnick covers politics for the Tribune Chronicle and The Vindicator.