Report: Turnout Up Around Columbus

Union members rally against SB5 at the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus
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The Columbus Dispatch reports that turnout in Ohio, which is today voting whether to repeal new anti-union law SB5, is very high.

The paper reports that turnout is especially good in Franklin County, where the capital city of Columbus is located along with one of the highest number of public employees per capita, according to Dems in the state.

From The Dispatch:

Voter turnout is expected to be brisk today in Franklin County as the referendum on Senate Bill 5 is projected to draw more people to the polls than during a typical off-year general election.

County Board of Elections officials said the record number of absentee ballot requests (more than 88,000) and the amount of attention to Issue 2 make voter turnout of more than 31 percent likely. About 31 percent in 2009 cast ballots — motivated then by a casinos issue.

“I don’t think early on we were expecting this many (voters),” said William Anthony Jr., director of the county’s elections board.

“All indications are that turnout will be high compared to other off-year elections,” said Ohio Democratic Party Communications Director Seth Bringman in an email to TPM. “Given the enthusiasm that Senate Bill 5 generated, that should come as a surprise to no one. Our supporters are eager to finish the job they started in February when protesters gathered at the Statehouse.”

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