Montgomery County election officials are preparing to count more than 4,400 provisional ballots, 1,500 on‑time absentee ballots, about 500 curbside votes and 189 outstanding military or overseas ballots. The counting will start next Thursday, with the county aiming to certify the results by November 24.
Election day ran smoothly, officials say
Jeff Rezabeck, Director of the Montgomery County Board of Elections, told local reporters that “the election here in Montgomery County went fairly smoothly.” He highlighted a record‑setting early‑voting turnout, noting that “we had over 40,000 who voted early, and that did set some records.” The overall turnout of registered voters was roughly 56%, matching the 2018 election when Ohio simultaneously held a governor’s race and a U.S. Senate contest.
Rezabeck explained that the surge in early voting reduced the demand for absentee ballots. “Where you saw the differences was really in absentee versus early voting. We had a tremendous drop in absentee ballot requests. I think which was reflective of the turnout in early voting,” he said.
Provisional and absentee ballots still to be counted
Despite the smooth day, the county still has a sizable batch of ballots to process. “Don’t be discouraged if we tell you to vote provisionally. It’s probably going to count. You know, just get it in there,” Rezabeck urged voters whose ballots are still pending.
Guy Aber, Deputy Director of the Montgomery County Board of Elections, outlined the recount procedure for any race that ends within a half‑percentage‑point margin. “Once we get that kind of 5% segregated and off to the side, we will sit down in a two‑person team, Democrat and Republican, and one person will read the ballot and the other person will mark the check marks for that race,” he explained.
Potential for recounts
Several local races remain extremely close, and state law allows a recount if the margin falls within half a percentage point. Officials said they are ready to mobilize bipartisan teams to verify any such results once the provisional and absentee ballots are fully tabulated.
The upcoming count of provisional ballots is a critical step toward finalizing the election outcome. As the county moves toward certification, residents are encouraged to stay informed through the WHIO‑TV news app and local election updates.
Original reporting: WHIO-TV Dayton (local) — read the source article.
